THE BIG LIE

IT WAS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON AS ANY TO LEAVE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. AS I WROTE AT THE TIME, IN 2017, WITH COVID ON THE FAR HORIZON; THE RELENTLESS PUSH TO “UPCODE,” AND GENERATE MORE REVENUE FELT LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN PERJURY. IT MAY BE A PERSONAL FORM OF PERJURY AND UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN LEGAL ACTION BUT IT WAS GAMING THE SYSTEM, AND NO BETTER THAN OUTRIGHT THEFT.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE LITTLE WHITE LIE WHICH TRANSFORMED A LEVEL 3 VISIT INTO A LEVEL 4 VISIT (AND WON THE PRAISE OF MY SUPERIORS) WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ASTOUNDING BILLS HOSPITALS AND DOCTOR’S OFFICES ATTEMPTED TO COLLECT.

PERHAPS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY AND MY TRAINING IN COUNTY HOSPITALS CONCEALED THE PYRAMID SCHEME OPERATING BENEATH WHAT I HOPED WOULD BE A REASONABLY LUCRATIVE YET FULLY ALTRUISTIC PROFESSION.

NONE OF IT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE. ON MY WORST DAYS I FELT THAT DANCING NAKED AROUND A POLE FOR DOLLARS WOULD BE A MORE HONEST WAY TO MAKE A LIVING. MY BEST DAYS WERE DURING MY TRAINING WHERE MONEY NEVER ENTERED THE EQUATION.

IT HAS NOW BEEN 29 YEARS SINCE I BEGAN MEDICAL SCHOOL. I ENTERED DEEPLY OPTIMISTIC AND LEFT PROFOUNDLY BROKEN.

I SACRIFICED 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE IN SERVICE ONLY TO REALIZE THAT I WAS JUST A WIDGET, AN MD IN NAME ONLY, HIRED TO BRING IN PRODUCT (PATIENTS) AND CREATE THROUGHPUT TO GENERATE REVENUE.