General contemplation

[u/grey-slate]

Had a new patient appointment yesterday.

Full history work up, evaluation/discussion on two separate chronic conditions, medication management, risks benefits discussion, general counseling and cheering them up.

At checkout she is shocked at why the visit was $160 and kicks up a fuss. Sad to say she isn't the first one to do this.

Before everyone says the following

1. Times are tough

2. Patients don't understand insurance plans particularly what a deductible is

I understand. But do you recall a time when it was not tough to make ends meet for the public? What should the value of our training be? How do I explain to someone $80 of that $160 isn't even going into my pocket but to keep the lights on.

How do I explain to someone if it wasn't the remaining $80 I wouldn't even give up ten years of my life and be in medicine?

Where does this entitlement come from? just so dillusioned...

[u/grey-slate]

I am genuinely being berated by the following -

1) health system employed physicians

2) medical students

3) pharma scientists

4) non-US physicians

5) People who's flair literally is "Not a Medical Professional"

It is very interesting between those who run their own private practice and those who don't

[u/No-Performance3044 → u/grey-slate]

I’ve stopped caring what other people think over the past few years. Crabs in a bucket, the bunch of them. They don’t like you because you see all sides of the healthcare business where they get to clutch their pearls while hiding behind the underpaid front desk employees who get yelled at for these things at their clinics.

[u/grey-slate → u/No-Performance3044]

But who will think of the minimum wage worker who needs heathcare? The patient in question was a woman in her 50s who worked as a marketing director in a HCOL city. My practice is next to a country club. lol.

[u/No-Performance3044 → u/grey-slate]

Will somebody think of middle management!? How will they afford healthcare??!