Monday, August 17, 2009

Bad Timing for the Canucks to Spring this One, Eh?

Uh, there was one?

And this reminds me of one of my favorite jokes...

Why do Canadians always have sex doggie-style?

So they can both see the hockey game.
Posted by 911DOC at Monday, August 17, 2009

14 comments:

  1. shrodingers cat6:14 PM, August 17, 2009

    How ironic. They are debating using the "American System" in some capacity.

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  2. 911DOC6:30 PM, August 17, 2009

    the old competition and supply and demand thing may have something to it after all 'cat. i can't understand it... clinton said we had abolished the 'business cycle' with all our super-duper smart ivy league brains in washington and nyc. maybe not. interested in seeing stats on applications to medical school. anyone?

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  3. 911DOC7:17 PM, August 17, 2009

    http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_8368.shtml

    good and bad news

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  4. Unknown4:51 PM, August 18, 2009

    That's an interesting article. I'm a whiteboy going back to college with the hopes of getting into medical school. I'm glad to see that all the doctors I've talked to that told me grades and MCAT are the thing to focus on weren't really lying. I couldn't imagine getting treated by somebody who didn't do well in science. I dread the idea of losing a shot at medical school to somebody who didn't do well at science when I did.

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  5. 911DOC4:58 PM, August 18, 2009

    anthony,
    i majored in history and biology. that means i have some science but i can also speak. this is a good thing.

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  6. erdoc8510:21 PM, August 18, 2009

    Good advice, Frank. 'Cept for one thing.

    What happens when some government bureaucrat with no healthcare experience starts to notice that payments for CRNA services are rising? Of course there would only be two "logical" actions based on past observations. 1) cut reimbursement for CRNA services and 2) seek less qualified and thus less expensive alternatives (like a CLVNA, a CRPhA, or maybe a CNAA).

    No, Anthony, if you want a stable career in the healthcare field with the possibility of advancement, you should take your High School diploma (or GED) and apply to join the army invertebrates who looks over doctor's shoulders and second-guesses decisions and constantly changes the rules.

    There are lots of positions available with private insurance companies (as long as they exist), but you'll find most of the jobs in Washington!

    Good luck, Anthony.

    -85

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  7. Unknown6:41 PM, August 19, 2009

    I thank you for the advice, but I decided a while back that I'm not doing this to make money. I'm doing it because it's what I feel called to. If it were about the money I'd remain a programmer.

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  8. PeggyU11:59 AM, August 20, 2009

    Interesting article from the Vancouver Sun.

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  9. Grumpy, M.D.9:45 PM, August 20, 2009

    A most excellent answer, Anthony. Hang in there.

    That's why I do this, and is the only reason I stick with this on many days. To help people.

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  10. erdoc8512:08 AM, August 21, 2009

    Maybe I should be clearer Anthony. I wasn't suggesting it was all about money per se. I was more eluding to the hassles and frustrations of practice as well as the UNCERTAINTY of income. With any job, you make certain financial commitments based on your income.

    The myth of "the rich doctor" makes these yahoos in Washington feel like we have tons of disposable income, so they are justified in constantly trying to cut it. That causes a great deal of uncertainty when you have monthly obligations just like everyone else.

    That uncertainty coupled with many young people just deciding that the ultimate income isn't worth the years of investmentment anymore was my point.

    Good luck.

    -85

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  11. Unknown11:11 AM, August 21, 2009

    Thanks. That was actually how I understood your original response. I've had others tell me the same thing. I'm 31 years old, and lets just say this hasn't been a decision I arrived at on a whim.

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  12. Steven Van Cleave2:55 AM, August 23, 2009

    Interesting article. Note that our two health care systems share the same prognosis: Not Sustainable.

    Now where did I put that optimism...

    We be uh-fix'n t' swap that which be uh'dyin' fer som'm done died a long time ago; our government in charge of anything civilian.

    You mean to tell me that pool of mush you're whipping used to be a dead horse?

    I'm afraid I'm over the cynical top, and agree with that Frog doc in Sicko. No fix will be forthcoming. The "free" market, and "fair" market chatter does sound good, though, like most fairy tales. Corpses, I'm afraid. Pan and zoom out. They be a whole bunch o' stuff that ain't what-cha-call sustainable now-a-days, like the economy...

    Anybody know of any good Chinese classes?

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  13. Anonymous9:30 PM, August 24, 2009

    @erdoc

    I was one of those young people who got out just in time. I had interviews scheduled before I realized that I just was not going to be able to shake what I knew in my heart was true.

    I just valued my independence too much in the end I think. I didn't want to be told what to do and how to practice by someone who has never set foot in a medical school. I didn't want to spend every day filling out useless paperwork to cover my ass from the inevitable lawsuit that could take everything I worked so hard for. I didn't want to have to beg and grovel in front of the government for fair reimbursement.

    At first I felt ashamed or that I had given up in turning away from medicine, but I've never been so proud of my decision to stand up for myself and what I believe in, and I hope others do as well.

    I still really enjoy interacting with patients (for the most part :P), and have luckily found myself a happy medium in dentistry and will be attending dental school next fall. Of course, Barry and Nancy will probably be after dentistry next, but at least I gave myself a couple years of buffer....sigh....and there's always Canada...

    And as an addition, I actually felt the worst about all the physicians I had shadowed and had encouranged me on to medical school. I felt like I had let them down. But after speaking with almost all of them at later points in time about my decision, they all said that I made a good choice, which made me much more comfortable with my decision, but left me feeling sad for the future of medicine. It sure looks bleak...

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  14. erdoc8512:11 AM, August 25, 2009

    You're certainly not alone, Anon.

    My daughter and 5 of her 6 pre-med friends did exactly the same thing for the same reason in November right after the election.

    However, none of them chose any health care related professions. They figured that the government would come for the dentists next, then the orthodontists. then the podiatrists, then the optometrists, then the chiropractors.

    I was at the dentist a couple of weeks ago, and the hygienist was rambling about how great Obamacare would be and I asked her two question: "how would you like the Government taking over YOUR job and controlling your salary, and what you can do to your patients?" and "What kind of care could you deliver under those circumstances?"

    She shut up and I think she changed her opinion. At least she shut up.

    Hopefully she also went home and scraped the "Save the Whales"; "Abortion is my Right" and "Stop Global Warming" stickers off of her car, then shaved her legs and armpits too!

    Best of luck!

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