Doctors Vent Their Discontent

June 17, 2008

NY Times Article

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Eyes Bloodshot, Doctors Vent Their Discontent

Published: June 17, 2008

Just a few paragraphs from story, guess the insurance has both

patient and doctors frustrated.

Clips of story:

" This whole week I haven't slept more than about six hours a night. "

I asked when his work usually got done.

" It is never done, " he replied, shaking his head. " See this pile? "

He pointed to five large manila packages on a shelf above his

desk. " These are reports I still have to finish. "

As a physician, I could empathize. I too often feel overwhelmed with

paperwork. But my friend's discontent seemed to run much deeper than

that. Unfortunately, he is not alone. I have been hearing physician

colleagues voice a level of dissatisfaction with medical practice

that is alarming.

In a survey last year of nearly 2,400 physicians conducted by a

physician recruiting firm, locumtenens.com, 3 percent said they were

not frustrated by nonclinical aspects of medicine. The level of

frustration has increased with nearly every survey.

" I'd write a prescription, " he told me, " and then insurance companies

would put restrictions on almost every medication. I'd get a

call: `Drug not covered. Write a different prescription or get

preauthorization.' If I ordered an M.R.I., I'd have to explain to a

clerk why I wanted to do the test. I felt handcuffed. It was a big,

big headache. "

When he decided to work in a hospital, he figured that there would be

more freedom to practice his specialty.

" But managed care is like a magnet attached to you, " he said.

He continues to be frustrated by payment denials. " Thirty percent of

my hospital admissions are being denied. There's a 45-day limit on

the appeal. You don't bill in time, you lose everything. You're

discussing this with a managed-care rep on the phone and you

think: `You're sitting there, I'm sitting here. How do you know

anything about this patient?' "

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