Few more physicians got elected to the 112th Congress

Compared to lawyers, physicians are a rare breed of the Congress. Only 16 physicians are serving in the current U.S. House and Senate. Six new physicians have been elected to serve in the next Congress:

• Larry Bucshon, MD from Indiana ran as a Republican
• Nan Hayworth, MD from New York ran as a Republican
• Andy Harris, MD from Maryland ran as a Republican
• Dan Benishek, MD from Michigan ran as a Republican
• Scott DesJarlais, MD from Tennessee ran as a Republican
• Joseph Heck, DO from Nevada ran as a Republican

The 8x8 Water Myth

The following is a guest post by Phil Goodman, MD

Most of us heard this all of our lives, “Doctors recommend drinking 8 glasses of water a day” (The so-called ‘8x8’ rule. Each glass ~ 8-10 ounces or about 240-300ml.)

Back in medical school, we medical students were told the same thing in our Nutrition class. No explanation. Just a simple statement on a sheet of paper and not unlike a mathematical postulate, all of us wide-eyed students accepted it as the gospel of medicine- from the ‘Medicine Gods’…in the ‘House of Gods’.

Organized Medicine

Most doctors chose medicine because we wanted to help people and put the patients first. Can we honestly say that we are able to fulfill our set goals?

Medical education has become exorbitantly expensive with an average cost of $200,000-250,000 for four years of tuition and living expenses. The physician’s earnings have been either stagnant or trending downwards.

Sight problems illustrated

Many people are often confused by the different sight problems and what they mean. I have found that the best way to explain the common sight problems is via illustrations. Physicians often use these illustrations when they first begin to study about these sight problems. Normal and clear vision is shown below. Physicians use an Amsler grid, which helps to monitor central vision disturbances and distortions. People with normal vision see a perfect grid.

A second medical school in Fort Worth is a misplaced priority

The physician shortage in Texas has commanded an unusual amount of public interest in recent weeks. The Houston Chronicle (Oct. 17), Star Telegram (Oct. 19) and Fort Worth Business Press (Oct. 27) all devoted space to the growing shortage of physicians in Texas and the steps necessary to correct the problem. The three articles recognized that the availability of residency slots is the determining factor in addressing the physician shortage. This conclusion has been confirmed in numerous national research studies. Residency opportunities are important because physicians often settle in the communities where they complete their residencies. Dr. Gary Floyd, chief medical officer of John Peter Smith, stated that “seventy to 80% [medical residents] will stay within 100 miles of where they are trained.”

In 2010, there are 1,404 medical graduates and 1,390 first-year residency slots in Texas. According to Todd Ackerman from the Houston Chronicle, 45 percent of Texas medical graduates leave the state to pursue out-of-state residencies. Many of these doctors never return to Texas. Therefore, the lack of residency opportunities not only reduces patients’ access to physicians, but it also imposes a steep financial cost. According to estimates from the Texas Medical Association cited in the Chronicle’s article, each Texas medical graduate who completes a residency outside of Texas and does not return to practice costs the state $200,000.