MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Intro/Abstract:
The American Health Care System is a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging field of work for small practice healthcare providers. Federal and state influences on cost of care, as well as insurance payor bureaucracy, have confronted small practice physicians with unfamiliar and complex obstacles of healthcare delivery. Additionally, some critics argue that an increasing corporate involvement with medicine has changed not only the delivery and culture of medicine, but the fundamental intimacy of the doctor-patient relationship. As corporations become more involved in providing health services, the population of independent healthcare providers continues to decline. This paper in particular will focus on the historical shift of practice size; from sole proprietor to corporate conglomerations over the past 25 years, with particular focus on shifts since the 2009 Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the implications regarding the digitalization of medicine will be briefed; with electronic medical records, electronic prescriptions, and the video-call check up capabilities of “tele-medicine” being particular focuses. Finally, the pros and cons of corporate medicine will be presented to provide pre-med and medical students with a historical and cultural context to their field of interest, in order to effectively assess and reflect on career aspirations.

Reader’s Profile: I imagine a reader taken back by the ideas of a dramatically changing field of work in respect to their desired career path.

Reader’s Response:
Hmm. These developing controversies in the United States healthcare system are issues I was not entirely aware of previously. If I consider these sweeping changes of the medical field, perhaps I might shift reconsider the logistics of my desired specialty. Both professional happiness and financial well-being are important to me, so I need to consider which of my priorities are most affected by the changing healthcare system. Maybe I should take a considerable amount of reflection time to introspect on whether my career choice will be a worthwhile experience for me. Although I can not change the macroscale economics driving the shift towards corporate medicine, the education of the ongoing shifts will empower me to navigate the field more confidently.

J -- much more narrow focus :) BUT still can veer out of control. Start writing now and consult with me next week on this work.

The idea that this knowledge can help shape specialty and residency selection is really useful. Your choice here shows sensitivity to the needs of this reader.

If you want to use the anecdotes and quotes, you might consider putting them in sidebar text boxes or placing them in italics. Ask me about these document design options.