Doctors Day 2021
March 30, 2021
It’s Doctor’s Day today and this doctor is tired. I’m not tired of being a doctor/physician/pediatrician/healer. I’m tired of the bureacracy that goes along with it, which feels heightened during this more-than-a-year-long pandemic.
Let me tell you why. Do you know that pediatric practices were an afterthought in PPP distribution? That’s right. Last year, there were many medical offices that were assisted (and many non-small business multimillion dollar companies that were unethically assisted), but adult primary care offices were prioritized. When PPP loans were being handed out last spring, it felt like many pediatric practices were being left out, or had to shout out to the rooftops to be included. I get it. The country was in chaos. Mostly adults were being hit hard. But I began to wonder what people would do when their children’s physicians practices began to shut down.
We never did. And, since I’m not a partner, I’ll be honest and say I don’t know details about our financials and numbers. But I know that there are many primary care practices (for kids and adults) that did shut down or are close to shutting down across the country.
Why? Because, ironically, primary care medicine is still undervalued in this country.
On top of that, there are many hospitals that are being shut down—some after being acquired by large corporations that could no longer support them. Unfortunately these hospitals often serve communities in greatest need or our rural communities.
What it boils down to is that even though the United States is one of the richest and greatest countries in the world, health care is not a right.
The Undervaluing of the Pediatrician
Which brings me back to the topic that I’ve been wanting to write about for almost a year now: the undervaluing of the pediatrician. We may always have been an afterthought. Here’s a snippet from my ‘quarantine journal’:
[April 23, 2020 Quarantine Day 41]
Over and over again, we heard as we were training in med school that primary care doctors were needed in this country. When everyone was choosing their specialties, some had hopes for certain specialties that paid well. For me, medicine was never about making money. Though I will admit that money is not something I ever had to truly worry about. I know how fortunate I am and how fortunate I have been.
No, I went into medicine because I loved biology and studying about the human body, and I loved working with people. I gravitated naturally toward pediatrics and it’s a decision I have never regretted. Not even when I found out that we are the lowest paid physician.
Why? Because I LOVE working with kids. I LOVE being a pediatrician.
*** end journal snippet ***
When I thought I wasn’t doing so well during a third year med student rotation (in retrospect, I wasn’t given a chance), I had some dismissive residents who agreed with me that I would make a good pediatrician. Not because I love kids and I love working with kids and I had a good mind for problem-solving. Not because I was going to be a good doctor. But because they dismissed me as not being good enough to be another kind of doctor.
Your disbelief? It’s because you may not know that there is a hierarchy in medicine. And I did come into my own. And I know that I’m a good pediatrician and a doctor. Not because being a pediatrician is ‘easy’, but because it takes a different skill set than being a Cardiologist or general surgeon or dermatologist. No less, no more, just different.
Despite sometimes doubting myself, I know that I am a good pediatrician and a good doctor. I try my best every day, and that’s the most anyone can ask of anyone. When the lockdown first started in March of last year, we were slow, like I said above, and I knew everyone was worried. So, I tried my best to call in and check in on my patients just to see how they were doing. Some people misinterpreted my actions, but the majority were happy to hear from me, and happy to catch up, especially at a such a time of uncertainty.
Pediatricians are expected to be at the front line for our patients, even as we aren’t given all the tools we need. Well child checks or physicals are undervalued, or patients are given short appointment times for big issues because there has to be enough patients seen in a day to cover all expenses. (Granted, it’s a little different now during pandemic.) Or, our referrals or choice of medications are denied or questioned again and again.
What it boils down to in the end is money. And most of us don’t go into medicine for the money—trust me, the tuition is steep and the commitment is even steeper.
So, really, what I want to say is that even though I’m a tired doctor on Doctors’ Day, I’m still honored and happy to be a physician. (I’d just like to keep the insurance companies out of it.)
Now please go thank your doctor who has likely been working tirelessly during this past year, both on and off the field, to help take care of you and to also to learn about a novel virus that has disrupted and taken many lives. I’m going to go thank mine now. And, while you’re at it, if you’re able to get the covid vaccine, please consider doing so. Those hardworking physicians, nurse, respiratory therapists, etc at the hospital need all the help they can get.
