My appointment with 'Dr. B'
Recently I trekked out to far western Maryland -- more than 3 hours from here -- to see how Dr. Ken Buczynski practices medicine (see story here). He and I had spoken over the winter for a story I was writing about the state's physician shortage. This 35-year-old doc is the one-stop shop for health care -- delivering babies, treating their moms and dads, their grandparents, even their great-grandparents. He performs epidurals for pregnant women because Garrett County's lone anesthesiologist doesn't have the time -- or inclination -- to do them. He does spinal taps when necessary. He is even trained to do colonoscopies. I had to meet this guy.
He's only been out there for 5 years, but he has 10,000 patients. He'll see them all each year, maybe not in his office, but when he is buying paint at the Lowe's or toilet paper at the Wal-Mart, or when he is in church and they are sitting in the pew across from him and his growing family (three kids under 6 and another due in September). There is no anonymity to this kind of doctoring. Even when he isn't on call, he is on display. He is always recognized as the doctor in the house.
It takes a special kind of person to put down roots like he has in a place so small and needy. ...
He talks a lot about how this is a calling. It would have to be. The job doesn't pay all that well anymore. Reimbursements in Maryland are low and when he says that Medicare and Medicaid are his best payers, you know it is a struggle to get every last dollar he is owed. Add to that the high price of medical malpractice insurance and the schedule of 168 hours on call at a time and it would be enough to scare any doctor away from this type of practice. And it has. The shortage of doctors in the state's western panhandle is acute. Just four deliver babies in the entire county and none of them is an obstetrician.
No one has an easy answer to the physician shortage, in the rural areas or the ones looming in primary care in the cities and suburbs. Impressed as he was with the tale of Dr. B, one researcher told me: "You can't build a healthcare system on the extraordinary people."
Comments
I enjoyed this front-page story very much. Living here in the metro area we take healthcare for granted; while just a short ride away people are not as fortunate to have all the options we enjoy. Great story!
Posted by: ruth | June 29, 2009 12:15 PM
Stephanie, I have to thank you for writing this article. It sums up what is broken in the health care system (and what is not being fixed by the bill in congress). Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Dave | June 29, 2009 12:24 PM
Thanks Stephanie! Dr. B. (much easier to spell!) is a man that I highly respect. I have been given the pleasure to work with him for over two years now as his IT professional. I see some of the sacrifices that he and his staff make to serve our community, but I know there must be more that I don't see. I also have the pleasure of being his friend and "Brother" in faith. As humble as I know that he likes to remain, I will take this opportunity to commend him on his outstanding service, intelligence, and wonderful personality. I very much appreciate your desire and willingness to feature him and his practice. The first time that I met Ken was in the delivery room at Garrett Memorial Hospital. I was immediately affected by him when he asked if he could pray with my wife and I just before performing the Caesarean section. Since then, I have been able to remain somewhat close beside him in a professional relationship, as well as a friendship that extends into like faith. I have gotten to know his family and they are wonderful and supportive of his calling to serve our community. Thank-You again, and thank-you Dr.B.
Posted by: Matthew Friend | June 29, 2009 10:22 PM
There are remarkable doctors. But unfortunately, access to physicians can be difficult in rural and medically underserved areas. So how is a patient supposed to get the quality care they need and deserve? There are also other remarkable healthcare professionals too. Yes, there are millions of healthcare professionals ranging from naturopathic physicians to chiropractors to certified midwives, who offer patients in rural areas a diverse array of safe, high-quality and cost-effective services. These professionals are well poised to meet the growing healthcare needs of all Americans.
If someone you know is concerned about the physician shortage, encourage them to access a broad spectrum of providers. You have the right to choose a provider that best suits your needs. To learn more, visit The Coalition for Patients' Rights™ (www.patientsrightscoalition.org). The Coalition is committed to ensuring comprehensive healthcare choices for all patients.
Posted by: The Coalition for Patients' Rights | July 1, 2009 4:06 PM