Draftee Doctor: Another Catch Phrase in the Health Care Winds
Stuart Nachbar
August 13, 2009
This month congressmen and senators are on their educated quests to learn what their constituents think of the latest health care bill. I have to say this: Round 1 goes to the Republicans; they've delayed a vote and come up with a good catch phrase, as usual.
The catch phrase "death panels" obscures everything, even the best intentions on both sides. It's not that the right is right; it's that catch phrases such as "socialized medicine" or "government bureaucrat" are very easy to remember. So, I'd like to contribute to the debate with a catch phrase of my own: draftee doctor.
This phrase, like death panels, is not in a health care bill. Draftee doctors is a floater over the plate, like a badly pitched knuckleball. I chose the phrase because of my research into military recruiting for Defending College Heights, as well as my interests in education and post-graduate employment.
Here's how the draftee doctor policy might work. Doctors fresh from residency would be conscripted into government service for a period of 18 to 24 months then two weeks a year for the next ten years. They would be assigned to places in need of medical care: a veteran's hospital, an inner city or rural clinic, or similar facility. If the doctor is married, he serves close to home. During that time doctors receive a salary and credit towards their loans. If the doctor remains in public service full-time, more debt is cleared.
What are some of the good points?
There is an influx of new doctors in places of need.
The facilities and communities in need don't need to pay their salaries.
They get doctors who have not been disillusioned-yet.
The doctors gain more appreciation of each other, just as soldiers do.
The doctors end up with less debt.
What are some of the bad points?
All of the moral issues about conscription: the country's needs take priority over the needs of the individual doctors and their families.
There is no assurance that the quality of care would improve.
Some residency specialties, like general surgery, take a long time to complete. There is a risk that fewer people might pursue these specialties.
Government spending goes up because the doctors are on the public payroll and the government is assuming a portion of their debt.
This is a clear, simple concept, with a two-word catch phrase. If you're old enough to remember M*A*S*H, then you already know that Hawkeye, BJ and Charles were draftee doctors. Only now, under my floater, the doctors would not serve in the military.
So, comment anyway you like on draftee doctors. I'm curious to know what people in the left, middle and right think about this new catch phrase.
Stuart Nachbar blogs on education and politics at www.EducatedQuest.com . Learn more about his new novel, Defending College Heights, an investigation into the murder of a U.S. Army recruiter at www.DefendingCollegeHeights.com
The catch phrase "death panels" obscures everything, even the best intentions on both sides. It's not that the right is right; it's that catch phrases such as "socialized medicine" or "government bureaucrat" are very easy to remember. So, I'd like to contribute to the debate with a catch phrase of my own: draftee doctor.
This phrase, like death panels, is not in a health care bill. Draftee doctors is a floater over the plate, like a badly pitched knuckleball. I chose the phrase because of my research into military recruiting for Defending College Heights, as well as my interests in education and post-graduate employment.
Here's how the draftee doctor policy might work. Doctors fresh from residency would be conscripted into government service for a period of 18 to 24 months then two weeks a year for the next ten years. They would be assigned to places in need of medical care: a veteran's hospital, an inner city or rural clinic, or similar facility. If the doctor is married, he serves close to home. During that time doctors receive a salary and credit towards their loans. If the doctor remains in public service full-time, more debt is cleared.
What are some of the good points?
There is an influx of new doctors in places of need.
The facilities and communities in need don't need to pay their salaries.
They get doctors who have not been disillusioned-yet.
The doctors gain more appreciation of each other, just as soldiers do.
The doctors end up with less debt.
What are some of the bad points?
All of the moral issues about conscription: the country's needs take priority over the needs of the individual doctors and their families.
There is no assurance that the quality of care would improve.
Some residency specialties, like general surgery, take a long time to complete. There is a risk that fewer people might pursue these specialties.
Government spending goes up because the doctors are on the public payroll and the government is assuming a portion of their debt.
This is a clear, simple concept, with a two-word catch phrase. If you're old enough to remember M*A*S*H, then you already know that Hawkeye, BJ and Charles were draftee doctors. Only now, under my floater, the doctors would not serve in the military.
So, comment anyway you like on draftee doctors. I'm curious to know what people in the left, middle and right think about this new catch phrase.
Stuart Nachbar blogs on education and politics at www.EducatedQuest.com . Learn more about his new novel, Defending College Heights, an investigation into the murder of a U.S. Army recruiter at www.DefendingCollegeHeights.com
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