I became alarmed the other day when our daughter could not find a new doctor. Her doctor left the clinic where she received care to become a medical school teacher. The clinic informed our daughter that she would have to go elsewhere to find a doctor as they were not hiring new doctors at this time. The current doctors were not accepting new patients either. This was even worse news then what I received when we moved to this area 18 months ago. I had to wait months and months to get a doctor's appointment. Then my new doctor left the clinic to become a hospitalist. I was given a new doctor but I had to wait months to get an appointment. This shortage is widely prevalent throughout the nation.
There were and are many events leading to this problem. One problem is the aging of the population. There are many more retired people to treat. Then there was the "Affordable Care Act." Some doctors and nurses were working 80 hours a week for less money. Some decided that working part time made for a better life/work balance. Others chose different careers such as high tech instead of going to medical school. One cause could be that medical providers got burned out due to Covid and decided to retire early. There are probably many more reasons.
But I was pleased to learn that our family contributed many nurses to the cause of medicine. Grandpa Slightam served as a nurse during the Civil War--George Henry Slightam (aka Henry Slightam) was a Union Soldier in Company A Nebraska 2nd Cavalry and Company B Nebraska 1st Cavalry. See the grave marker above.
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My aunt Ruth served as a Registered Nurse from college to retirement. She worked in several hospitals and was a school nurse for a number of years. My 1st cousin once removed, was a medic in the Army reserve and was an occupational therapist Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and continued as one after the army. Another 1st cousin once removed, is a registered dental assistant.
My two 1st cousins are both RN's. My next to the youngest brother is an LVN.
I'm praying that our young people will be called to the medical profession. But in times of struggle when we don't have medical help we have the hope that some day a place like the Garden of Eden will be a reality.
Ezekiel 47:12 "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
I had heard veterinarians also are leaving the profession - obviously different set up! But COVID was a factor. People paid more attention to their pets they found during COVID.
ReplyDeleteProbably also things like reduced rates for medical stuff - medicare and medicaid. I have a friend in the band I was in who ran his own sleep medicine clinic and he quite that though he owns the building still! He works for Swedish. He was tired of trying to figure out how to get paid for medicare and medicaid patients... but it's not just evil government healthcare either. The medical industry is super cutthroat as a business with high overhead... Our friend has struggled with the reality of Occupational Therapy - really what is prized is speed and basically figuring out how to charge for more VS patient care. She wanted to do OT because she wanted to really help people but has found she has to rush through things and from what i hear basically encouraged to cut corners - though she doesn't do that and just works more. Something along those lines.
Sounds like insurance as well as heavy patient loads are also causing professionals to leave the profession.
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