via kevin md:
It’s no secret that more primary care doctors are looking for careers outside of medicine. And no wonder, considering that burnout rates are at all-time highs, compounded by soul-crushing bureaucratic responsibilities. This profiled physician on CNN.com, who works at a community health center, sells clothes on eBay – which is not uncommon on the online auction site. What’s impressive, or disturbing, depending on your point of view, is that “the 35-year-old family practitioner says she earned $120,000 last year on eBay, more than she did practicing medicine.” Especially with universal coverage on the horizon, a family physician such as this will be sorely needed. The fact that she’s finding more professional satisfaction on eBay, rather than practicing at her community health center, speaks volumes about the worsening crisis facing American primary care.
For more on the difference between specialists and primary care physicians (PCPs are the backbone of a well-performing healthcare system and a dying breed with only about 4-5% of graduating residents going into primary care this year), see this post I wrote for Fast Company.