Re: Deep south- Rheumy shortage

November 4, 2008

& group,

I have read (here in Australia, but no doubt it is global) that

specialists are very reluctant to train new doctors in their field so

as to avoid competition. So they are partly to blame for the lack of

Rheumatologists. While they may have started out with the right

intentions (ie. helping people), greed soon consumes them.

I recently researched my rheummy. He offers 1 ?traineeship? a

year. A first time visit is $300 & they will see 70-80 NEW patients

a MONTH! That's $21,000 to $24,000 a month!!! Plus all the on-going

patients who pay $180 each visit.

I know doctors pay a lot to go to Uni & all, but at this rate they

would make their fee in 5-6 months. & the way I see it, if they love

their field so much why do they stop listening to us? They don't know

that much about the diseases, they don't know why half the drugs we

take work, so you would think they would be interrogating us trying

to find answers wouldn't you?

Boggles my mind, lol.

Sharon

>

> --- Well, I say " Deep South " only in a general location. I am from

California, lived in Iowa

> and now live in Georgia and shortly will be moving to Alabama.

Hubby got a new job. I

> have found that there are very few rheumatologists in my area, and

that there are people

> who drive hours to see the doctor I see. I only drive 45 plus

minutes to see her. She

> comes so highly recommended that she can't keep up with her patient

level and the

> normal wait to be seen is between 2 and 4 hours. It's horrible

especially when you are

> there because you hurt so much, and then have to sit too long, so,

I " m discouraged, but

> still hoping to find another doctor who can properly treat me.

>

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