Healthy Life Line: Make Medical Test Screen Part of Healthy Routine

Today patients have a big advantage with prevention screening.  Mammograms and colonoscopy are recommended routinely for those with high risks as well as those without.  These along with blood tests like the PSA (prostate specific antigen) are important prevention and early detection tools.  Why wait for symptoms occur or for something potentially life threating to happen? It is important to avoid when it can be prevented or detected early.

Many lives have been saved by medical prevention screening.  When diagnosed early, it can lead to a better quality of life.  False positives and incidentalomas may also show up.  These can be further evaluated and followed as deemed necessary with and without surgical intervention.  It is important for patients to educate themselves and ask questions about medical prevention and screening tests.

Be prepared to pay something for some tests even with health insurance.  Your car insurance fails to cover maintenance, but you must maintain the insurance coverage plus pay for maintenance and repairs.  Do likewise for your good health.  Pay extra and reap the extra benefits of good health amd saving money.  After all, true wealth is good health.  Best health!

Doctor Shortage Delays Medical Care

Physician demand in all specialties is greater than the supply.  As the population grows the number of doctors is decreasing.  The 2036 projected shortage in the United States is 86,000 according to the 2023 study by AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).

The Covid pandemic worsened the crisis as more doctors left physician life primarily due to money.  During this time Medicare continued to decrease doctors' reimbursement for medical services rendered to elderly and disabled patients.  Basic costs like office rental or purchase, malpractice insurance, employee salaries were the main sources of money outflow.  All of these were increasing as were costs for an aging population most of whom had at least five chronic medical conditions.

As a potential physician shortage may be approaching, it has become more difficult to get timely appointments.  If you have insurance, they must be in network to avoid extra cost beyond your insurance coverage.  This usually means longer wait time primarily due to smaller listing of doctors.  Many physicians also have limited visiting hours unlike days of old when they made themselves more available to patients than two days a week.

In addition, doctors are more specialized and selective in their choices.  One choice is cash only payment instead of insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.  Another choice is the specialty or subspecialty chosen.  The more specialized are usually more expensive and highest paid. Some have gender and age preferences. Burnout due to overworking has led to limits in the number of new patients for some doctors, or just quitting.

Patients should try to find doctors they feel are best for them and their family.  Even if it means consulting several in the same specialty until you get the right one.  Doctor shopping is becoming more popular as the healthcare landscape keeps rapidly changing.  The Internet makes it easier to do, but the telephone makes it more personable.  Talking to someone can give you more informatiom and add to your research.  Word of mouth is still a good way to find doctors.  Seek out the best doctors and you will find trustworthy personalized precision health care for you.  Best health!