From burnout to buzzwords like “value-based care” and “AI,” these are the healthcare trends five physicians told Becker’s they were tired of hearing about.
Editor’s note: These interviews were edited lightly for clarity and length.
Quentin Durward, MD. Neurosurgeon at the Center for Neurosciences, Orthopaedics, & Spine (Dakota Dunes, S.D.): I’m over the obsession many doctors have about “burnout.” I don’t deny it’s a real problem for some doctors — Beckers just reported that some 11% of orthopedists have thought about suicide. However, we as physicians all strive to work hard, and as the old adage goes, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” I think part of the problem has been the introduction of mandatory residency work hours restrictions. When I trained as a neurosurgeon 45 years ago, we residents had no restrictions and I put in 120 hours a week at the hospital. Besides a huge case volume experience, one comes to realize you can work at that pace and stress level and still survive. It’s a form of character-building.
Michael Gross, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon at Union Middlesex Orthopedics (Wayne, N.J.): I hope you do not mind; I am going to give you two here. The first, “burnout.” Quite frankly, this has almost become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more one hears about burnout, the more burnt out they become. The second, “AI is going to replace physicians.” The more tasks that AI can handle; the more sophisticated tasks human physicians can tackle. In addition, we do not treat images, lab results or algorithms; and the ability to tailor care to the individual patient remains a human skill. AI may change the way physicians practice, but that human touch will always be irreplaceable.
Harry Haus, MD. Medical Director of Dr. Haus & Associates (Erie, Pa.): I am tired of hearing how they will fix Medicare payments. I have heard this since the 1990s. Also, how computers will help. Just ask any doctor and the computers slow down how many people you see in a day. Before computers, there was no doctor burnout and doctors worked into their 60s and even 70s. Today, doctors want to retire early and work many fewer hours per week because they do not find it enjoyable.
Udaya Padakandla, MD. Immediate Past President of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists: I am particularly tired of hearing about vertical integration in healthcare. Insurance carriers have figured it out — around the time the Affordable Care Act was passed — that in order to keep the revenue streams flowing, they can tap into the other related aspects of healthcare profession apart from health insurance, namely, physician practices, health care facilities like hospital systems, ASCs, skilled nursing facilities and even hospice centers. Of course, they are already mastering the technique of integrating pharmacy benefit managers into their fold. The final element of a vertical integration was the integration of information technology, more specifically, claims data clearinghouses.
Vijay Sudheendra, MD. President of Narragansett Bay Anesthesia (Providence, R.I.): Workforce crisis: This term is often used to describe staffing shortages in healthcare, but many feel it has become an overused excuse for broader systemic issues. Leaders have called for solutions-oriented discussions rather than repeatedly citing a “crisis” without actionable steps.
Value-based care: While the shift from fee-for-service to value-based care is widely recognized as necessary, some are tired of hearing about it without seeing meaningful implementation or outcomes. The rhetoric around this model can feel repetitive when tangible progress is slow.
The post The healthcare trends physicians are tired of hearing about appeared first on Becker’s ASC.
