Drs. Emanuel and Fuchs acknowledge there is a large amount of waste in the U.S. healthcare system, which drives up overall costs and threatens the fiscal stability of every other sector. However, they suggest that “years of [medical] training have been added without evidence that they enhance clinical skills or the quality of care. This waste adds to the financial burden of young physicians and increases healthcare costs.”
Reducing physician training could create availability to train more physicians while reducing four years of other physicians’ financial debt, according to the article. The authors also noted that the most important patient care skills can be obtained in less than two years of clinical training, as Harvard University and other academic medical colleges require less time during clinical rotations.
However, Drs. Emanuel and Fuchs believe less physician training could also lead to reduced physician compensation, although higher physician pay has been justified due to the expensive training.
More Articles on Healthcare Costs:
CDC: Medicare Expected to Pay Half of Hospitalization Costs in 2009
Medicare, Medicaid Costs Still Expected to Double Despite Revised CBO Projections
Report: Out-of-Network Medical Costs Catch New Yorkers Off Guard
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