Opinion
Want to ensure family practice's future? Cut the hours, up the pay
LETTER — Posted May 3, 2004
Regarding "Family physicians told to evolve so specialty can survive" (Article, April 12):
This opinion is rated "NPC" -- not politically correct.
Medical students are not entering family practice and the specialty's future is threatened. Why? They do not like the long hours and poor pay offered by family practice.
The "New Vision" for family practice suggests electronic medical records, evidence-based medicine, etc. None of these changes address long hours or poor pay. Indeed, some admittedly place an increased burden on the physician.
Jeffrey R. Waggoner, MD, Denver
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/05/03/edlt0503.htm.
Copyright © 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
