Physician Compensation Supply of Medical Services

The Erosion of the doctor-patient relationship

The New York Times reports (“Doctor and Patient, Now at Odds“) that the doctor-patient relationship is suffering. Patients no longer place absolute trust in their doctor for a variety of reasons. On the physician side, patients know that doctors are pressured by insurance companies reimbursement mechanisms to have shorter office visits. Reports from the media on medical errors and physician kickbacks from drug companies are not helping either. On the patient side, the internet has opened up a vast new store of easily accessible information on diseases and communication with other patients who have the same disease. The prescience of Dr. Rich’s foretold of “the loss of this doctor-patient relationship” in his book, Fixing American Healthcare.

Hat tip: Dr. Jay Parkinson

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