Live data from Hacker News

'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant doctors

npr.org

51–55 of 55 posts

Re: 'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant doctors

#51
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the issue is US _culture_, not education (although the two are intertwined). We had too many easy years where you could take a Jack Kerouac road trip for 5 years to find yourself and then settle down to the equivalent of a cushy 6 figure job just for being a man with a pulse. Now if you do that, you will come back to find all the cushy jobs filled, and you are unqualified for anything except bottom of barrel…

At our current level of technological advancement, we should be able to get far more than a 5y Kerouac road trip before joining the grind. Where are all those supposed productivity gains going? Why are we becoming less free? (This is sort of an aside. Yes, bring all the hardworking immigrants here, please. And maybe let them have those road trips, too.)

The productivity gains go to:

- an ever increasing standard of living

- stonks go up to prevent a pensioner revolt and to inflate egos of billionaires

We are kind of equivocating about "the grind" though. There is the grind of a student keeping their heads in books and activities while friends play video games or party or whatever. This grind has a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of obvious graduation dates and similar rites of passage.

Then there is the grind of working at McDonalds or Walmart because that is the only opportunity left to you, and that is a grind that might easily go on forever unless you win the hunger games and get into a management track rat race.

Re: 'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant doctors

#52
post #41
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the issue is US _culture_, not education (although the two are intertwined). We had too many easy years where you could take a Jack Kerouac road trip for 5 years to find yourself and then settle down to the equivalent of a cushy 6 figure job just for being a man with a pulse. Now if you do that, you will come back to find all the cushy jobs filled, and you are unqualified for anything except bottom of barrel…

Getting into the medical school and staying there for so many years until you can support yourself means also a huge investment from the family. Now, what is the culture saying about this? Would you keep your kids on your paycheck until they're almost 30, or you throw them out to get a job as soon they're 16? And of course, can the kids already afford to be independent and support themselves when they're 16 (aah swee…

I know this is a rhetorical question, but... yes? As a parent I absolutely am going to make sacrifices to help my kids get through college, and one is planning for med school. I feel like many immigrant parents have this mentality. It is the native born who do not. (Native born white guy here looking at all my family and acquaintances)

Re: 'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant doctors

#53
post #46
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same reason a parent cares for their child more than a random strangers? Cultures and people matter.

Doctors with proper training will do what they were trained for. Maybe personality traits play a role as well secondary, but stuff like culture is just noise compared to what really matters.

Not really. How they handle you with regards to the health care apparatus is a major part of what makes for a successful doctor patient relationship.

Re: 'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant doctors

#54
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doctors with proper training will do what they were trained for. Maybe personality traits play a role as well secondary, but stuff like culture is just noise compared to what really matters.

Not really. How they handle you with regards to the health care apparatus is a major part of what makes for a successful doctor patient relationship.

Could you specify that? Maybe there's a difference between Europe and the US.

Re: 'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant doctors

#55
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really. How they handle you with regards to the health care apparatus is a major part of what makes for a successful doctor patient relationship.

Could you specify that? Maybe there's a difference between Europe and the US.

Maybe lol? There is basically no way of knowing cost going into anything or whether or not it will wind up being covered. Also when they get around to demanding money they won't necessarily do it all at once, you can get a bill a year after a visit even though they billed you the first time 4 months ago or some shit. A doctors office can handle this well with significant effort on their part or not.
Post reply on HN