‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

belltaco wrote: post #3

The decades long wait times for green cards for immigrant doctors is also hurting health care in rural America. https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/08/news/economy/immigrant-doct... https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/communitie... https://time.com/5299488/international-medical-graduates/

Friend married a Russian cardiac surgeon, one with 20 years of experience, brilliant woman. She was not allowed to practice in the US without years of redoing residency and entry level exams and loads of money. She ended up changing careers as it was so much bother. Patients ended up losing out on a caring and bright provider.

Re: ‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

#5

Post by honkycat » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 7:14 PM UTC

hestipod wrote: post #4

belltaco wrote: post #3

The decades long wait times for green cards for immigrant doctors is also hurting health care in rural America. https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/08/news/economy/immigrant-doct... https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/communitie... https://time.com/5299488/international-medical-graduates/

Friend married a Russian cardiac surgeon, one with 20 years of experience, brilliant woman. She was not allowed to practice in the US without years of redoing residency and entry level exams and loads of money. She ended up changing careers as it was so much bother. Patients ended up losing out on a caring and bright provider.

That is a feature, not a bug.

Why would a well-paid, highly regulated profession allow people to come into their turf and undercut them?

Not saying this is a GOOD thing. Merely pointing out that the system is working as intended.

Re: ‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

#6

Post by honkycat » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 7:17 PM UTC

This is happening on my home town. The hospital has been scaling back more and more. What was once a thriving hospital now only has 3 doctors.

Not due to demand, but because there are not enough doctors. Doctors do not want to live in a podunk town, no matter how much the hospitals are willing to pay.

Re: ‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

#7

Post by PopeDotNinja » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 7:20 PM UTC

hestipod wrote: post #4

belltaco wrote: post #3

The decades long wait times for green cards for immigrant doctors is also hurting health care in rural America. https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/08/news/economy/immigrant-doct... https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/communitie... https://time.com/5299488/international-medical-graduates/

Friend married a Russian cardiac surgeon, one with 20 years of experience, brilliant woman. She was not allowed to practice in the US without years of redoing residency and entry level exams and loads of money. She ended up changing careers as it was so much bother. Patients ended up losing out on a caring and bright provider.

That sucks. There's probably a situation in the future where doctors, or at least surgeons, can work remotely. Russian doctor marries US citizen, logs into VPN in Russia from USA living room, performs Surgery with Nintendo remote.

Re: ‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

#8

Post by SolaceQuantum » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 7:27 PM UTC

honkycat wrote: post #6

This is happening on my home town. The hospital has been scaling back more and more. What was once a thriving hospital now only has 3 doctors. Not due to demand, but because there are not enough doctors. Doctors do not want to live in a podunk town, no matter how much the hospitals are willing to pay.

Theoretically if the podunk town is willing to pay 5x, 10x, 100x, etc. A doctor would definitely take up that. Hell, I would do software development in a podunk town for a million dollar salary. Maybe even a 750k salary.

Re: ‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

#9

Post by rohit2412 » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 7:33 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #8

honkycat wrote: post #6

This is happening on my home town. The hospital has been scaling back more and more. What was once a thriving hospital now only has 3 doctors. Not due to demand, but because there are not enough doctors. Doctors do not want to live in a podunk town, no matter how much the hospitals are willing to pay.

Theoretically if the podunk town is willing to pay 5x, 10x, 100x, etc. A doctor would definitely take up that. Hell, I would do software development in a podunk town for a million dollar salary. Maybe even a 750k salary.

Yeah that's a dynamic I can't understand. Most software professionals talk about relocating away from the cities the first chance they get, but everybody else is rushing to the same cities that only software developers seem to be able to afford.

This dynamic extends beyond usa. Even in India, doctors command high salaries in rural areas, often 2-3x what they can in metropolitan cities.

Re: ‘Out here, it’s just me’: one doctor for 11,000 square miles

#10

Post by thrower123 » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #8

honkycat wrote: post #6

This is happening on my home town. The hospital has been scaling back more and more. What was once a thriving hospital now only has 3 doctors. Not due to demand, but because there are not enough doctors. Doctors do not want to live in a podunk town, no matter how much the hospitals are willing to pay.

Theoretically if the podunk town is willing to pay 5x, 10x, 100x, etc. A doctor would definitely take up that. Hell, I would do software development in a podunk town for a million dollar salary. Maybe even a 750k salary.

I'd happily do my software job remotely in a podunk town for just my current salary. The dollars would go almost twice as far.