I am pretty sure what ever you choose to call my generation, officially known as the "baby boomers," the "me generation" would be a better fit. I see this everywhere. Many of us drive big, gas guzzling cars, live in homes with enough square footage to graze cattle, and believe that the current government is trying to take all of this away from us by taxing us to death. So, this election cycle, I have chosen to sit it out so to speak.
Oh, I voted. Yes, I was at the polls the first week of early voting with my choices for the least worst candidates in many cases and in some, those candidates who I think will preform rather well. I have "Had Enough" and in my state that pretty much means I have had enough of the Me generation politicians who have been in power since I was in college. In my opinion our current governor has used his near decade in office to ruin our public schools, get almost everyone their own personal handgun, and make billions for his friends. Again, mostly this has happened because my generation was too busy making money to worry about where the state, country, or world was headed.
Back to my participation in this election. I put my yard signs out months ago, which only served to alienate me further from my neighbors. Oh yes, and I have a sticker on my car. I know this is risky, since many of the supporters of my candidate's opponent carry concealed weapons. I am just careful not to cut anyone off on my drive to work. I have been lucky so far. If my candidate does happen to win, I will pull that sticker off the day after the election.
As I said before I voted, but I did not remind my friends to vote. They are all voting for the other guy. I know this because we have rather in depth conversations about what might change the current course of our state, this country and especially our profession.
I still believe the health care plan is a start. I am well aware of the fact that medical insurance has increased by 10% this year. Remember, I am self employed and I buy my own. I will continue to drive my old car, which gets better than thirty miles to a gallon. I could have a new hybrid for what I paid in medical insurance and health care costs this year for myself and my family. The truth is medical care costs money and no one took one the biggest cost which are the insurance companies themselves into consideration in constructing the latest legislation. Why, the politicians needed the financial support of the insurance companies to get re-elected. Their CEOs and the CEO of the hospital where I work will still make at least 7 figures. They are part of the "me generation" too.
Where is this going? To solve these very real problems, someone will have to give up something. Honestly, I don't think it will be the "me generation" and I am afraid we have not raised our children and grandchildren to do this either. I think those who have immigrated here will likely be the ones willing to work hard for less and find ways to make change happen.
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Musings of a physician in private practice for 24 years, now teaching in a residency program and working as an ob-gyn hospitalist in a large metropolitan hospital.
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The Local MD
Having now been a physician in private practice for twenty-one years, twenty-six days and about an hour and twenty minutes, it occurs to me that I have become what in medical school was often a derogatory term, the local MD.The presentation on rounds often went something like: "This 45 year old Caucasian male was seen last week by his LMD, and diagnosed with a viral upper respiratory infection..." At that point everyone knew that the LMD had missed the diagnosis. Otherwise the poor patient would not have ended up in a tertiary medical center with three consulting specialist, a fellow, a resident and four medical students at his bedside.What we, the medical students, the resident, the fellow and even the attending hospital physicians did not realize is that we would never know John Smith as well as the LMD. We would never speak to his wife using her first name. We would never be able to recall the names of all his children and know where they were in the world. We would never remember his favorite hobby let alone joke with him about it. Nor would we shed a heart felt tear when we gave him the diagnosis of the aggressive small cell carcinoma of the lung that had landed him in our midst and would kill him in less than three months despite our aggressive treatment that was the best medical science has to offer.At that point in my life I was very proud to be even the lowest ranking person on the team that was on the cutting edge of the diagnosis and the treatment of the gravest of conditions that plagued mankind. I felt so very lucky that I was being initiated in to this sacred fraternity. That I would soon be able to write "MD" after my name. I am still proud of my vocation yet I believe there is a wisdom that has only come with those twenty-years of practice.Today I realize what people want most of their physician is that he or she is someone who cares.Yes, we all want "everything medical science has to offer." Yet, what most of patients need is someone who will listen with their heart as well as with their head. Physician eyes are important, not only for seeing signs of disease in the body but for making contact with the patient's eyes where we are often allowed to see into their soul. All of the technology in the world will not replace a warm clasp of the hand or sitting at the bedside to share a few moments of the day along with the test results.So, I have created this blog. In large part it is a place for me to put my feelings. My hope is that at least some of these posts will resonate with others out there. Not just physicians, but others in caregiving vocations and even those for whom we care. If we are not here for each other then why are we here?
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