Letters: Readers comment on Medical Economics stories

For love of migraines

I agree with Dr. Richard Waltman's observations ["Every physician should have a migraine," September 4, 2009]. I always look at my personal ailments as opportunities to be a better physician.

Having been a healthy young adult, then experiencing five surgeries in five years-including some of those 'scares' described by Waltman-plus a couple more within the last year, I know the experiences have made me a more empathetic doctor.

I experience such highs and lows as a physician these days. I love it and hate it sometimes within the same breath.

JANE KANO, MD
Denver, Colorado

Be more like dentists

Samuel Bierstock's article "A great idea turning bad" [The Way I See It, August 21] resonated with me. Since graduating from medical school in 1999, I have been frustrated with our profession. It seems that we as a profession are reluctant and ineffective in sticking up for ourselves-specifically when it comes to EHR mandates. We grumble a little, then cave in to the changes that politicians, bureaucrats, insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, JCAHO, and the general public want, regardless of whether the changes we are making are actually for the better.

It is my perception that other allied health disciplines such as dentists, chiropractors, midlevel practitioners, etc. are much more effective in promoting and enacting agendas that are in the best interest of their disciplines. We in the medical profession just apologize for breathing while our regulatory burden increases and our remuneration decreases, until one day private practice will be a completely untenable enterprise. And then they'll have us right where they want us.

DON MILUS, MD
Columbia, South Carolina

E-nough already

I have had electronic prescribing on my computer for months. I don't use it. But the media all tell me I should, to keep up with the times and to solve all the problems of healthcare.

It takes 5 to 10 minutes to go to the computer room and figure out the password and use the blame thing. I can write a legible script in one minute. So remind me again: Why should I use electronic prescribing?

RICHARD R GRAYSON, MD
Batavia, Illinois

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