It is obvious that our primary care system is broken. Third-party payers, primarily insurance companies and the government, plus a broken torts system that allows for gigantic punitive damage awards that primarily benefit lawyers who prosper from others’ misfortunes, all conspire against the primary care system. The costs associated with the system are growing, and doctors are finding it ever harder to make a living befitting of their commitment to education and training. Many are leaving the primary care practice for less stressful occupations, either going elsewhere in medicine or exiting the practice of medicine completely. I could go on and on here, but I’m not a doctor and my understanding of the screwed up mess is less than thorough. Accordingly, I’ll direct you to an excellent discussion of this issue on a doctor’s blog, DB’s Medical Rants.
