sHEALyWellness
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PHYSICIAN BURNOUT
C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.
At American Pain Society (APS) 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting, May 1, 2014, Dr. Henry Knoll of Henry Ford Hospital presented an interesting survey showing “Pain Physicians Have High Rates of Burnout”. In fact this is the highest burnout of any group of physicians! And just two years ago a large study showed that “Burnout is more common among physicians than among all other US workers!” Arch Intern Med, 2012, 172:1387-1385.
Interestingly what I predicted 22 years ago in THIRD PARTY RAPE is finally coming home to roost! Within a few years of my book, which the AMA refused to be allowed to be advertised in their publications, an article appeared in the NEJM “Delay, Delay, Delay, Deny,” concerning the increasing hassle of the insurance mafia in paying claims, all actually a response to government crap, Group Related Diseases. I actually wound up suing Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Missouri over their dirty tactics. It took me 5 years but I eventually received 37 favorable judgments in Federal Court stating “I find Dr. Shealy credible. I do not find Blue Cross-BlueShield or HICFA credible.” Things began to go bad in 1965 with the government’s first major intervention into controlling medical practice. And folks, if you think things are bad now, just wait! UNAFORDABLE CARELESS is now the name of the game.
I do not know the answer and am not certain anyone can change it. THE GOOD NEWS IS:
“Ninety-nine percent f people are born healthy and become unhealthy because of human misbehavior,” John Knowles, M.D. stated in the late 70’s. STILL TRUE that a huge majority of illnesses are the result of unhealthy behavior! I gave up almost 40 years ago on trying to change the System. But I do not plan on giving up trying to convince people to adopt common sense health behavior. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID THE DISASTER OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM!
You know the essential habits. Now, how bad does it have to get for everyone to adopt sensible habits??
Finally, as a few will say about this rant, I want to mention that I worked for 30 years in chronic pain management without becoming burned out. If I had been able to find the right physician to take over, I would have continued much longer but I gave up on that also. This problem, of physicians allowing the PharmacoMafia to push everyone into prescribing narcotics long term for non-cancer pain, is beyond STUPID! There is no excuse or reason for chronic narcotic use in 99% of chronic pain patients! My success rate of 85% in over 30,000 patients shows that excellent rehabilitation can be done with proper CARE and appropriate retraining of the mind, body and personality