Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Physicians have had it. What do we do now?

Michael Weiss, MD
Physician
February 20, 2018
Share
Tweet
Share

I keep reading about how physician’s rightful bitching and moaning is peaking at an all-time high. It’s time they do so before the bow breaks, and let me tell you — we’re almost there. The worst problem that persists is “the enemy within ourselves.” This voice of doubt keeps us from the next logical step: stop what we’re doing, revolt and disable a broken runaway system lest we all soon go down with it.

This “enemy” is our own disbelief and the loss of faith in ourselves and our cause. After all, we are the real “cause” of helping the sick, wounded, hurting and afflicted ones in our nation — not some paper-pushing, cash-hungry bureaucratic machine that could care less about our nation’s sick and ailing, let alone about us. Unfortunately, the state of the union in health care will probably have to really get even worse for the nation to see just how important physicians are and how they carry the real weight when it comes to America’s medical needs. Either we get a top seat at the bargaining table, or we walk away and start our own negotiations. The nation is yearning for those of us who care for and treat them to be the ones who negotiate their needs. Will some senator from the Midwest or insurance executive know how to stop the pain and suffering or ease the plight of our nation’s families?

It’s no longer feasible to allow a bunch of MBA medical novices, insurers, and all the other power brokers to bankrupt our nation on the backs of doctors without whom they would soon all change their business ventures to non-health care pursuits.

Yet, physicians prefer their own crying games as the real powers in health care carry the day with unlimited time off to enjoy (unlike physicians). These mega-billion brokers take home no onerous EMR’s to complete after struggling with late after-office hours. So as to complete ridiculous measures, they are required to implement purposelessly in order to “possibly” see a minuscule rise in their compensation. In fact, these time-consuming and costly MIPS and MACRA burdens further torture physicians as they are at best worthless to patients. Why haven’t we had enough?

A tough question? Not really. So what exactly is it that holds doctors back from striking or refusing to work for wages equaling less than fees they could get for parking cars? Perhaps it’s an embedded fear from as far as back as medical school, enforced by residency and later by licensing agencies, insurers and the government. All this is topped off by a derogatory and demeaning media portrayal and governmental scapegoating of our profession. So sure, they give up and continue in misery — wouldn’t anyone?

But how long does anyone think this can continue?

Think about it. Do physicians have any real power? Licensing agencies do, insurers do, the pharmaceutical industry and the government certainly does — all of them over physicians. And yet, physicians have no power over anyone, especially themselves or their patients. Of course, this is totally unacceptable, irresponsible, unethical and disastrous. But it continues as you read this.

In essence: if we stopped working, the nation would be paralyzed. How can this ever happen when it is us who are already paralyzed?
Instead, we lay powerless leading woebegone, paralyzed lives of frustration. Yes, we’re prisoners of a very crooked system who have us by our physical as well as psychological chains of our own “stethoscopes.”

Everything we do is scrutinized, analyzed, pre-calculated, paid upon contingency for fear of revocation with fees continuously demanded and collected, penalties imposed and then the requirements. These requirements are continuously and onerously piled up so, in effect, we can either choose to burn out, commit suicide, leave the profession but never seem to hold a “snowball’s chance in hell” of ever even partially controlling our own destinies or that of our patients.

Perhaps lessons from Gandhi’s nonviolent revolt and boycotts might spark a familiar sentiment in many of us. Imagine if physicians all refused to do MIPS, MACRA or other nonsensical trick or treat onerous worthless puppeteer measures? Will we all stop getting paid or get less from Medicare? How much less will that be as they’ve already whittled us down to bare minimum — all the while continuing to generously allow pharmaceuticals and insurers to rake in “sky’s the limit” charges.

Well then, just maybe we might get a say in what measures we believe are important to improve the quality of the life of our patients without suffering burn outs along the way. Perhaps we might get paid by insurers without fears of having these payments refunded with interest or simply refusing to pay for our hard-earned work at their whim. After all, who ever heard of getting paid without guarantee of keeping one’s fees? Sounds like “funny money” to me. Too bad it’s we who are made to look like clowns. We’ve got to be heard now. Later will be too late as the siege upon physicians continues to take no captives.

It’s no wonder that so many pre-med students abruptly switched to becoming NPs or PAs or even more so chose non-medical careers.

Will we congratulate our oppressors for destroying an amazing field of higher calling, or will we have the courage to start speaking up and finally take back our noble profession? It’s totally up to us to make an important life-changing impact today. As a profession, we’ve been forcefully taught about documentation so how about we all document what’s happening to our profession and how it affects our patients’ lives as well as our own?

ADVERTISEMENT

I’m sure you all have highlights of your own plights and travails you can share and lend a powerful sorely needed voice to help share with our nation, elected officials and colleagues to affect vital changes today. Thus, we might actually assure both the continuity and brighter more hopeful future for newcomers to our embattled profession. After all in 1776, 5 of the 56 signers of our Constitution were physicians.

In 2013, there were 21 physicians in our congress. That number dropped to 11 in 2017. So in 1776 about nine percent of signatories of our constitution were physicians, whereas, today it’s one percent or less. Let’s take back our voices so the muffled heart sounds of our nation can once again be clearly heard.

Michael Weiss is a physician and can be reached on Twitter @HeartAndSoulDoc.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

How telemedicine will revolutionize primary care

February 20, 2018 Kevin 2
…
Next

Inaction and playing it safe has costs

February 21, 2018 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How telemedicine will revolutionize primary care
Next Post >
Inaction and playing it safe has costs

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Michael Weiss, MD

  • The true cost of being uninsured in America

    Michael Weiss, MD
  • What’s the one thing doctors can learn from corporations?

    Michael Weiss, MD
  • The old days of medicine are gone

    Michael Weiss, MD

Related Posts

  • Turn physicians into powerful health care influencers

    Kevin Pho, MD
  • Are patients using social media to attack physicians?

    David R. Stukus, MD
  • The risk physicians take when going on social media

    Anonymous
  • Beware of pseudoscience: The desperate need for physicians on social media

    Valerie A. Jones, MD
  • Essential health messaging tips for physicians [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • When physicians are cyberbullied: an interview with ZDoggMD

    Monique Tello, MD

More in Physician

  • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

    Kayvan Haddadan, MD
  • Why more doctors are leaving clinical practice and how it helps health care

    Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA
  • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Why starting with why can transform your medical practice

    Neil Baum, MD
  • Life’s detours may be blessings in disguise

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • The future of clinical care: AI’s role in easing physician workload

      Michael Wakeman | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 38 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • The future of clinical care: AI’s role in easing physician workload

      Michael Wakeman | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Physicians have had it. What do we do now?
38 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...