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Florida Heading for a Health Crisis |
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Articles by Norman Traverse MD - Editor
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Florida Heading for a Health Care Crisis
Norman Traverse, M.D.
January 2, 2008
The success of our health care system is dependent upon Primary Care Physicians (Internists, Family Practitioners, Pediatricians and Obstetrician/Gynecologists). Hospitals depend on them for admissions and they are vital to the managed health care systems. Unfortunately, medical school graduates are choosing other specialties that are procedure oriented to produce a better income. The government has chosen to continue reducing reimbursements to Primary Care Physicians. This combined with the very high medical liability Insurance costs prevents the doctors from making an adequate income.
Florida is facing a great crisis with virtually no young Primary Care Physicians coming to the area. Most of the physicians practicing in the area are over fifty years of age with many in the 60 to 70 year age group. The retiring Primary Care Physicians are not being replaced by young doctors. Florida has a reputation for aggressive trial lawyers. In some areas as many as 80% of the doctors are unable to find an insurance company willing to sell them medical liability insurance or being unable to afford the expensive insurance.
With an election coming, both political parties are promising to expand health care for the underinsured. This would increase the number of people who would use the services of Primary Care Physicians. Where are we going to find the Primary Care Physicians to take care of these additional patients? Many of our current doctors are retiring, leaving the area or setting up VIP practices which dramatically reduces the number of patients that they are willing to see during the year that exacerbates the problem of not having enough physicians to take care of the needs of an increasing population with a large number of senior citizens.
For some suggestions to the solutions of this critical problem facing our nation please go to www.HealthMadeEasy.com and read some innovative ideas that we will set forth to solve these problems. These suggestions for improvements will appear weekly starting in a few weeks
Wishing you the best of good health,
Norman Traverse, M.D.
Editor in Chief - HealthMadeEasy.com
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Last Updated ( Friday, 30 May 2008 )
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