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Believe it or not, most doctors don't own their own practice and don't make more money for giving out treatments. Most of them did get into the field because th

Believe it or not, most doctors don't own their own practice and don't make more money for giving out treatments. Most of them did get into the field because they want to help people and it's a pretty small minority that profits off handing out treatments

rco8786 4y ago
Believe it or not, I am not blaming doctors. I respect doctors, and go to them frequently. But it's useful to go in with open eyes. Even doctors that do not own their own practice are incentivized by the people who do own the practice. In the same way that a store clerk is incentivized to sell high margin items over low margin items. Or a Facebook engineer is incentivized to get users to engage in unhealthy social media addiction. There's nothing wrong with the individuals, its the incentive system that they are operating within.
- kevviiinn 4y ago
  What is the evidence for your claim? As far as I'm aware, insurance shoots down as much as possible When a physician works for someone else's practice or hospital, generally they're pressured to see as many patients as possible
  - rco8786 4y ago
    My claim is as simple as the claim that for-profit enterprises are incentivized by profit and will prioritize profit-making activities over not-profit-making activities. If you have even a passing belief in capitalism then you have all the evidence necessary. Every single doctor (in the US) profits off of handing out treatments. It's a pivotal part of how the economics of medicine works in this country. The entire thing would, quite literally, fall apart if doctors/practices did not profit from handing out treatments. Note that I am not claiming that doctors are out there prescribing medicine they shouldn't be prescribing just to line their pockets or whatever...you seem to be convinced that I have some sort of negative view of doctors and I don't. What I am saying is that they operate within a system that literally requires them to prescribe medicine in order to stay in business. So given the option of "prescribe medicine, bill insurance, and see the next patient in line" or "suggest a lifestyle change and work with the patient over the course of months and years to monitor those changes"...they all choose the former. AND THAT IS FINE. But to be blind to it is simple ignorance. Hell, it's what most patients want. Most people go to a doctor for medicine, not lifestyle advice. > generally they're pressured to see as many patients as possible That is because this is what maximizes profit for the parent company. It is a business like any other.
    - kevviiinn 4y ago
      Doctors get paid for seeing patients, not specifically for giving out treatments and I'm not sure where you got that idea from
      - rco8786 4y ago
        Yes and engineers only get paid for writing code. The money just appears from the employer. I honestly can’t tell if you’re just being purposefully obtuse.
        kevviiinn 4y ago
        Engineers get instructed to implement features, doctors do not get instructed to hand out treatments

rco8786 4y ago

Believe it or not, I am not blaming doctors. I respect doctors, and go to them frequently. But it's useful to go in with open eyes. Even doctors that do not own their own practice are incentivized by the people who do own the practice. In the same way that a store clerk is incentivized to sell high margin items over low margin items. Or a Facebook engineer is incentivized to get users to engage in unhealthy social media addiction. There's nothing wrong with the individuals, its the incentive system that they are operating within.

kevviiinn 4y ago
What is the evidence for your claim? As far as I'm aware, insurance shoots down as much as possible When a physician works for someone else's practice or hospital, generally they're pressured to see as many patients as possible
- rco8786 4y ago
  My claim is as simple as the claim that for-profit enterprises are incentivized by profit and will prioritize profit-making activities over not-profit-making activities. If you have even a passing belief in capitalism then you have all the evidence necessary. Every single doctor (in the US) profits off of handing out treatments. It's a pivotal part of how the economics of medicine works in this country. The entire thing would, quite literally, fall apart if doctors/practices did not profit from handing out treatments. Note that I am not claiming that doctors are out there prescribing medicine they shouldn't be prescribing just to line their pockets or whatever...you seem to be convinced that I have some sort of negative view of doctors and I don't. What I am saying is that they operate within a system that literally requires them to prescribe medicine in order to stay in business. So given the option of "prescribe medicine, bill insurance, and see the next patient in line" or "suggest a lifestyle change and work with the patient over the course of months and years to monitor those changes"...they all choose the former. AND THAT IS FINE. But to be blind to it is simple ignorance. Hell, it's what most patients want. Most people go to a doctor for medicine, not lifestyle advice. > generally they're pressured to see as many patients as possible That is because this is what maximizes profit for the parent company. It is a business like any other.
  - kevviiinn 4y ago
    Doctors get paid for seeing patients, not specifically for giving out treatments and I'm not sure where you got that idea from
    - rco8786 4y ago
      Yes and engineers only get paid for writing code. The money just appears from the employer. I honestly can’t tell if you’re just being purposefully obtuse.
      - kevviiinn 4y ago
        Engineers get instructed to implement features, doctors do not get instructed to hand out treatments