The Naysayers of Practicing Independently Have it Wrong

Daniel Paull, MD, says that physician burnout isn’t a physician problem, it’s a system problem. Practicing independently is possible, he claims, if we use our creativity.

ABOUT THIS STORY

I'm trying to figure it out for orthopedics. I believe that for almost every specialty there is a way to practice fully independently, you just need some creativity and ability to take risk.

Burnout doesn’t happen all at once. It happens little by little.

Things slowly get worse as the joy of practicing diminishes.

Inevitably, when it finally hits the tipping point, it forces the physician to look for a way out.

 

Some are close enough to retirement to push through a few more years.

Others are creative enough to find a way of supporting themselves outside of practicing in the system.

Sadly, others choose a much darker path.

 

We get so brainwashed by health insurance and hospital systems that we think that there is only one way to practice medicine; the way they tell us to.

This is really only a modern dilemma that we all think is permanent.

It only exists because we keep it existing by working for hospital systems and by billing insurances.

 

Burnout doesn’t happen all at once. It happens little by little.

 

You can practice without any hospital system or insurance company involvement. You will be immediately happier.

 

There are a lot of naysayers, who will tell you that it won’t work.

They are wrong, it does.

Me and thousands of other practicing physicians are proof. Direct primary care doctors have figured it out.

I’m trying to figure it out for orthopedics.

I believe that for almost every specialty there is a way to practice fully independently, you just need some creativity and ability to take risk.

Pioneering is never easy.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of SoMeDocs)

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Daniel Paull, MD

Founder and CEO of Easy Orthopedics, America’s first mobile cash based orthopedic practice.

All opinions published on SoMeDocs-Mag are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of SoMeDocs, its staff, or editors. Content on SoMeDocs is intended for informational and storytelling purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Readers should always seek the guidance of their own qualified healthcare professional regarding personal health or medical decisions. SoMeDocs is a magazine built with the safety of free expression and diverse perspectives in mind.

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