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Welcome to this session of grand rounds, a collection of posts I have discovered in the blogosphere and have found of interest and hope you do too.

This offering of Grand Rounds looks at articles from around the web that deal with issues facing physicians.

 

 

In my culture the big three professions every parent hoped their child would go into were doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

Obviously I followed my father’s footsteps and became a physician.

I really did not know what I was getting myself into (and neither does my daughter who still is hoping to become a physician herself).

Being in a profession that is respected and pays well is a win-win, right?

Well maybe the profession does not pay as well as we think, especially if we factor in the costs of becoming a physician (educational costs as well as cost in time).

Physician on Fire sheds some light in his post, “Cost vs Reward of Becoming a Doctor or a Dentist.”

 

 

I believe there is nothing more noble than helping someone in their time of need.

As physicians our very profession embodies helping others when they are not at their best.

Sadly more and more physicians are getting burnt out because this component of their job is diminishing while the other non-desirable components seem to be increasing (such as more administrative tasks being put on our already full plate).

But can we still be happy as physicians and avoid burnout?

Look For Zebras thinks so in, “Five Happiest Types of Physicians.”

 

 

Sadly I would say the majority of physicians are not happy in medicine anymore, as evidenced by the rising rate of burnout and physician suicides.

What has changed to make a profession that we all aspired to enter something we now despise?

Debt Free Dr. reveals some issues plaguing the medical profession in, “I Can’t Do It Anymore: 3 Reasons Doctors Hate Their Job.”

 

 

Retiring early really becomes a priority for those physicians who are no longer happy at work.

Even if you are one of the fortunate physicians who are happy at work, early retirement still be calling you.

Unfortunately trying to retire early may draw criticism from colleagues or non-medical folk alike.

The Physician Philosopher adds to the debate in, “It’s Wrong for Doctors to Retire Early.”

Whether we like it or not, we are all replaceable.

In this cost-saving, bottom-line medicine environment, you can be certain that as physicians we are under the cross hairs of administration and the government.

If there is a cheaper, viable option available you can bet they would replace us in an instant.

So what is the outlook for future generations of physicians in this setting?

Investing Doc ponders this in, “Midlevel Encroachment And Its Effect On The Next Generation Of Doctors.”

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the reading material.

Have a great rest of the week.

 

 

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