Calling John Galt

A number of studies have come out saying that by 2025 we will have a deficit of 30-45k generalist physicians.  They are the backbone of our medical system, and without them, we are in deep trouble.  Though, that time may be closer than anyone anticipated:

The Physicians’ Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports physicians’ work with patients, last month published the results of a survey on current medical practice conditions in the United States. Some 12,000 doctors responded, the vast majority of whom were primary care physicians.

This is only a small sample of primary physicians.  However, it doesn’t bode well for the short term.  Our system is too complex, too regulated, and too controlled.  We need to give doctors back their authority and minimize the amount of time spent working with insurance companies.

If people don’t do what they find rewarding, they simply won’t do it anymore.

While these doctors rated patient relationships as the most satisfying aspect of practice, over three-quarters felt they were at “full capacity” or “overextended and overworked.”

Only one-third felt they had the time to fully communicate with and to treat all patients, and 60 percent felt that paperwork demands resulted in less time spent with patients.

People don’t do things because it is in the public good.  They do them because they get a personal value out of it.  Things that are financially rewarding and personally gratifying.  If things aren’t both, then we can say bye-bye to those individuals.

We can try and regulate, control, and control all aspects of society, but unless we give control back to the individual, then we will continue to see decreasing activity and returns from the people doing key jobs that keep our society functioning.

Listen Washington, get out of our business.  You will be amazed and surprised by how little (if at all) we actually need you.