| Did you know that? Does it surprise you? Oh, | | | | twenty-five patients a day in the office. |
| sure, there are many doctors who practice good | | | | Dr. Jones has a different approach. She figured |
| medicine (myself included, I hope). I'm just saying | | | | out a long time ago that the more patients she |
| that's not how they get paid. | | | | could see in one day, the more money she'd |
| For the most part doctors get reimbursed based | | | | make. In fact she has become so quick that she |
| on how many patients they can quickly get | | | | is able to see fifty patients a day. Her office is |
| through their office, clinic, ER, etc. They also get | | | | the epitome of speed and organization. Dr. Jones |
| paid, usually very well, to do procedures, so the | | | | realizes that her practice approach is not exactly |
| more procedures they do... well, you get the | | | | what she envisioned when she was an idealistic |
| picture. Some physicians work for an hourly | | | | medical student but she knows it is much more |
| wage, no matter how many patients they see or | | | | lucrative to just give people what they think they |
| don't see. For example, in the emergency room, I | | | | want, usually a prescription of one kind or |
| work for an hourly rate but I must be productive | | | | another, and then get them out the door. It |
| enough or I could find myself out of a job. | | | | saves all that time trying to council and teach |
| Doctors who work for a specific rate, regardless | | | | patients about their health. Her patients have |
| of how many patients they see per hour, are | | | | become accustomed to the fact that they will be |
| probably still in the minority. Certainly most office | | | | in and out of the office in a hurry but they are |
| practices are numbers driven. | | | | willing to accept feeling rushed in exchange for |
| Let me give you an example. | | | | getting prescriptions for antibiotics, tranquilizers, |
| Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones practice next door to | | | | sleeping pills, antidepressants or anything else they |
| each other on Main St. Dr. Smith prides himself on | | | | might request. |
| communicating with his patients, explaining things, | | | | Please understand that I am not saying that |
| educating them, helping them find | | | | speed and efficiency are undesirable qualities for |
| non-pharmacological ways to deal with their | | | | an office practice to have, or that there is never |
| various problems. He believes that natural | | | | a good indication for writing prescriptions. What I |
| methods of dealing with health problems can | | | | am saying is that what most people could benefit |
| often be more beneficial than taking pills. He takes | | | | from is a physician who listens, educates and |
| time to listen to the dad who's stressed out at | | | | includes the patient in the treatment of the |
| work, to the teenager who feels left out at | | | | patient's condition. We all want to be listened to. |
| school, to the four year old having nightmares and | | | | We all want to be valued. We are all capable of |
| to the working mom who is trying to maintain her | | | | learning how to have optimal health. |
| sanity. Because his approach to medicine takes | | | | Now which of the two doctors above, makes |
| time and effort, though he is efficient and | | | | more money? Which one would you like to have |
| experienced, Dr. Smith sees, on average, | | | | for your doctor? |