Need a surgeon? Won't be able to find one

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However, there are often barriers in place that prevent alternative or other professionals from providing care. Often the mantra is "safety" but in reality it is as much a turf battle as anything else.

Cshin,

Thanks for saying that Cshin, because I feel as a chiropractor, I don't have the moral authority to say that without being questioned for bias.

There are literally hundreds of chiropractors out there sitting in their offices with their thumbs twiddling, able to take care of carpal tunnel, whiplash, headaches, and other musculoskeletal conditions in a competent, portal of entry matter.

Yet, because of what you said, the turf battle (the orthopedic/PT cartels), they are unable to assert themselves in the marketplace.

In the 1990's, the Canadian Healthcare system issued an exhaustive study (the Manga Report, Pran Manga, PhD) indicating if the system let chiropractors act as PCP's for back pain, it would save the system a billion dollars and actually enhance outcomes. And that was one condition.

You can imagine how the orthopedic surgeons felt about that.

The study was quietly buried.

10 years later, chiropractic was delisted from the Ontario healthcare system from reimbursement.

So. . .here's the other rub. . .what people are wishing for, what they are hoping for. . .is for drugs and surgery to become cheaper.

News flash: drugs and surgery ain't going to get cheaper. It ain't just going to happen.

Policymakers are crying for alternatives. . .but when alternatives are presented. . .the remarks are "Anything but that. . ."

[m3racer]

They don't spend 3 years in residency, day in, day out, reading journals, following mentors, going to seminars, engaging in roundtables and one day wake up and say,

It's more like 8 years to become a cardiothoracic surgeon....and yes I mean 8 years after finishing medical school. 5 years general surgery + 3 years of CT fellowship.

[m3racer]

Personally, I think there has got to be more fluidity in the labor market in healthcare.

If there is a dearth of interventional radiologists or cardiologists and a glut of C-T surgeons, then the C-T surgeon should be able to "fast-track" into cardiology or IR. If there is a dearth of nurses and a glut of physician assistants, the same thing. Whatever. . .I am sure a pediatrician can't transfer into being a geriatrician but there are some potential areas of overlap.

It just doesn't work that way. I hate to brake the news to you but in general here is the rule. The brighter medical students specialize in specialty fields, whether it's in surgery or internal medicine. Do you seriously think any medical student can become a CT surgeon. Just because one has an interest in an area does not mean they are qualified. I remember some classmates that could barely figure out a rectal exam. Needless to say they went into psychology or pathology....LOL

[m3racer]

Food for thought....the average person has absolutely no clue about what it entails to become a surgeon. I hear people bitch about 40 hour work weeks and I just can't help myself but laugh. I remember as a surgical resident I would easily work 90-100 hrs a week.....and that's not a typo. Oh yeah did I mention residents get paid below minimum wage! Thankfully, Congress intervened and residents are limited to working 80 hrs a week...LOL!! They are essentially sweat shop workers!!

I feel terrible for CT surgeons. They are getting robbed by managed health care. I assure you that if the average American had the intelligence and toughness to become a surgeon/physician they would not bitch about health care costs. As a society we need to stop thinking, "Health care should be free for everyone." and "The MD should be sued if there is a less than perfect outcome."

So in a nutshell......1) Insurance companies need to step in line, 2) Health care should not be free for everyone (Go tell that to Clinton/Obama), 3) Frivolous law suits need to come to an end.

[BunionDR]

Bariatric Surgery

Most bariatric surgical procedures are covered by PPO insurance plans these days. So a bariatric surgeon would only be billing your insurance company, and not you, for the procedure.

This can help tremendously for those who suffer from obesity that are seeking a long-term solution that is both health-conscious AND cost-effective.

[dawnwes]

My father is a surgeon, but he has retired from practicing. I often hear him say he is glad he doesn't have to work now with all the changes. He doesn't mind changes in learning new procedures or learning new technology in order to perform surgeries better, but he does mind the huge changes in insurance, paperwork, and malpractice amounts.

Dawn