» Eyes Bloodshot, Doctors Vent Their Discontent
My dad is definitely one of these doctors. He’s also one of the most hardworking people I know, and is completely devoted to his practice, and his patients. Everyone loves him (srsly, especially old ladies…we can’t go anywhere without getting stopped). He goes into the hospital to make rounds at 7:40, then to the office when he’s done, sees patients until 6:00, then he sits down to a mound of paperwork that keeps him at the office until 8:00pm (even though he’s finally allowed them to hire an assistant to help with some of it). He went into my grandfather’s practice after med school, and has been there ever since. It became impractical to stay privately owned, so they were bought by Our Lady of the Lake hospital in the late 90s. There are now only two doctors in the office (including my dad), and they are having a difficult time getting another. Not many young doctors want to practice in a small town, where at least 65% of the patients are on medicare. It’s too much work for a small amount of money. So now, he’s almost 60, and is ready to cut his hours, but he can’t. He’s chained to the office, the hospital, and all the managed care bs that comes along with it. Supposedly, they are getting another doctor in July, but he’s heard that before…
