The Doctor Will Not See You Now-Washington Monthly

In most of the U.S., primary care is in deep crisis. Family physicians are reporting high levels of stress and burnout, thanks to a reimbursement treadmill that requires many of them to see four patients every hour in order to make a living. Older physicians are retiring prematurely. Heavily indebted medical students are shying away from family medicine and pediatrics, which pay less than half the $500,000-plus salaries offered to surgeons, cardiologists, and other specialists. When surveyed, few newly minted doctors express interest in joining community-based practices, preferring the set salaries that come through employment with large institutions.