A new nationwide survey of primary care doctors shows widespread dissatisfaction with the medical business. Nearly half of the physicians who responded said they would get out of medicine if they could. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
Those who were unhappy complained about the frustrations of dealing with insurance company red tape.
Another recent survey reveals only two percent of medical students plan to go into primary care.
Dr. Jess Mandel (man-DELL) is a dean at UCSD's School of Medicine . He says students who graduate with enormous debt often look for more lucrative specialties.
Dr. Jess Mandel: There's also an issue I think to make sure they can preserve balance in eir lives for their selves and their families, and look for fields in which the hours are more electively scheduled perhaps than in primary care.
Still, Mandel says USCD has a number of students who want to go into primary care. He says interest has actually risen in the last few years.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
