It discourages probing into the details of a twinge of chest pain or ankle swelling, mentioned in the visit's last moment, for fear that more physical examination and a time-consuming cardiogram will be needed. Yet no physician wants to practice medicine in constant fear of learning more than he or she will have time to act upon. Physicians want to care for the medically indigent, to educate students and trainees and to research scientific problems. Managed care has not held up its end in these areas, either. Responsibility for the medically indigent has been deferred to the county hospital, usually indigent itself.
Medical research is left to universities in most cases.
Physician solutions Most physicians have put their blood, sweat and tears into learning medicine. Ironically, managed care has offered a hidden blessing for physicians because its very pressures have pushed many of us to explore less stressful pursuits. If you have even an inkling of interest in leadership, public health, research, writing, or righting the legal world, your help is both needed and compensable, and your contribution can be a creative one. Few doctors run antique stores or cook in restaurants, and few will. Those who will will do so for love, not for money.