PODIATRY

This is my 27th year in practice, I was not aware that a forum such as this existed. It sounds as if there is a bit of consternation among the practitioners and students; some have moved on to different things having left the profession in apparent fits of acrimony. Yes, the education is expensive, it always has been both in terms of time and money. Sometimes podiatrists eat poop. Everybody does occassionally. Podiatry isn't for everyone; it takes a unique person to do this. I have had difficult years as everyone has, but this profession has supported my family and put my children through college and graduate school. Now I am looking for someone to take over this practice and in talking to prospects have yet to hear anything but "I want to have a surgical practice, I want to make $200,000 the first year". Back in the dark ages, when tuitin was $2800 a year, there was a clinician ( I believe Stess was his name, I wish I could remember) who said, "If you do what you think is best for the patient and maintain honesty and integrety in your practice, you will succeed." He was right. The fact that practioners now have to have a high volumn practice to pay expenses and repay loans, the fact that now we seem to be focusing on what surgical procedure can be done rather than what is best for the patient reflects a change in the profession that I was not aware of until I began reading this forum. I realize that my time has come and gone, I am the old timer that some of you refer to, the old timer who has no business assigning my values to the new breed. I can't imagine having $200,000 loans, but I can remember when an initial visit was $3. I can't imagine doing surgery day in and day out, that would be terribly stressful although it would make me richer. There is a lot of humility in cutting LOL toenails but they appreciate it immensly and it makes them feel better, I figure that's what I'm here for if and when they need it. I know the profession has changed, but I do hope that whoever remains in it understands that the purpose of a podiatrist is to make people feel better, whatever it takes surgical or otherwise. The person who replaces me can triple the volume of this practice overnight by agressive billing and surgical emphasis. I figure that's what will happen. Thats the way things go. I wish there was some way to return to the notion that the most important person in a practice is the patient, not the doctor and doing what is best for the patient will lead to success.
Adios from Outpost, MN