(02-13-2020, 03:53 PM)flsprtsgod Wrote: Your thoughts on this topic are misguided, 1,000 spots in medical school or a residency program doesn't mean that there are only 1,000 qualified candidates. It means that qualified candidates cannot gain a spot in the program.

Here's a nice white paper on the topic if you're interested.

http://newcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/...or-Gap.pdf

Oh, I see. 

That article still suggested that we should lower the standard required to be a nurse or doctor--less training or candidates from countries with less training. I may have missed where the qualified candidates exceed the available spots but I didn't see that. I think allowing more qualified people is a good idea, but I question if there's enough qualified people to put a dent in the costs of doctors and nurses. 

(02-13-2020, 07:48 PM)mikesez Wrote: I knew a guy who was very high up in Florida hospital, which had like 25 locations. He told me that in spite of the fact that they were encouraging their doctors to form independent organizations that would bill patients and insurance directly, the hospital's expenses were still mostly doctors' salaries and nurses' salaries. He said the mortgage, utilities, consumables, and equipment financing were a much smaller portion.

What is really unfair about this is, although all doctors and many nurses get a very generous hourly wage, most of them work more hours than they would like. The shortages are hurting their quality of life too, they just can't see it.

Well, employees with any company will account for a lot of the costs, but the problem is still the treatment more so than the employees. HandsomeRob gave their percentage of costs. One study showed that outpatient hospital care increased 25% while physicians increased only 6% (from 2007 to 2014). The same study showed that hospice care prices increased 42% versus 18% physician costs. Most studies show similar trends.

I'm not sure how much cheaper you think they'd get, either. You may be able to find foreign doctors to work cheaply, but I can't imagine American doctors would work for modest wages. Personally, I wouldn't want a doctor that only gets 65 - 80k (or similar).

I can't speak for other hospitals, but I am familiar with staffing for three of the bigger hospitals around Atlanta. I haven't seen them work nurses any more than they wanted to work. There was usually a 3-day (12 hour shifts) minimum work week but any more shifts were typically voluntary. All the nurses I know use the schedule as one of the biggest benefits to nursing. Doctors probably work too much but I don't know much about that.

---