Pimps and Ho’s Wherever Rosemary Goes
I spend much of my writing time lamenting about Full Practice Authority(FPA), Optimal Team Practice(OTP), substandard, for-profit nurse practitioner(NP)degree mills, false advertising and the misappropriation of titles/roles by non-physician practitioners(NPPs), apathetic legislators and anything or anyone else who promotes and enables the unsupervised, illegal practice of medicine by NPPs. However, I am fully aware that those issues are a symptom of a much greater problem–that of private equity firms(aka as the “Cartel”) who back the corporate medical groups(CMGs, aka the “Pimps”) taking over the health care system. The detestable corporate practice of medicine(CPOM). These non-physician, non-healthcare literate leeches make enormous profits off the backs of hard-working health care professionals(HCPs) and vulnerable patients. They have managed to convince the gullible, after much effective propaganda, that their inhumane vision and version of the future of medicine is not only inevitable, it is what we health care professionals desire.
I will now direct my ire to the Cartel and its Pimps, both of whom are directly instrumental in the continuing downfall of what once represented an honorable profession. All I can say is it is hard out there for a Pimp. Hell, it must be–they can’t seem to make enough money off the misery they have created. They must generate more.Their greed is incessant, transforming our healthcare system into a virtual cesspool of wickedness, simply to satisfy the avarice that drives them. The depersonalization of physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals, the commoditization of patients, the conflation of various medical and nursing disciplines, etc.…All represent concerted efforts to control and manipulate what should have and could have remained beyond their reach. But they didn’t do it alone. They had assistance from within.
Enter the Ho’s. First, the Escorts. The sellouts. Traitor trash. The obsequious physicians, nurses and other HCPs who function(ed) as the Trojan Horses for the Cartel/Pimps and enabled them to enter(or perhaps I should say “escorted” them into) the House of Medicine in the first place. As top of the line Ho’s, they were rewarded handsomely for their traitorship. Second, the Call girls and boys. The talking heads. Ineffective as advocates, they do what they are “called” to do at the bidding of the Pimps. They make no waves and offer no resistance–you know, go with the flow. They attempt to remain under the radar until they can exit the game completely. Their actions cause no harm directly because they have none. Instead, their inaction and acquiescence empowers the suits to inflict more damage. Lastly, we have the Hookers. The Streetwalkers. The frontline health care workers on the ground. Us. We do what we have to do to survive. Although disrespected, demeaned, degraded, demoralized and many times underpaid while the Pimps are overpaid, we doggedly toil in this insufferable pit because we have families to support and patients who require our care. We are the Cinderella Liberties who continue to honor our oath, with a sense of altruism and genuine compassion for our patients’ health, safety and well-being.
Speaking of the patients….to them I extend my sincere condolences. The Johns and Rosemaries who can’t get no satisfaction. They are just looking for someone…anyone or anything to provide relief from their agony in this godforsaken health industry. Enticed by false ministrations, they enter the Whorehouse of Medicine, believing they will receive the high quality care they have been promised. Just when they think they are about to experience that moment of glorious rapture, they are unceremoniously booted out, after being given the equivalent of fast food service and a quick handjob. Understandably displeased, the Johns and Rosemarys refuse to pay the Streetwalkers for services not rendered. Unfortunately, they don’t understand who they really owe…One must never forget, “health care” is a business. True to form, the Pimps, exhibiting all the empathy of Ted Bundy, remind them by sending subtle(and not-to-subtle) threats that they better pay up….or else. Because, you know….it’s hard out there for a Pimp. Gotta get that cash for the Cartel. It’s just business folks. Nothing personal.
There’s no love where Rosemary goes…there is only Pimps and Ho’s.
I think I can say I practiced in the “golden age” of nurse practitioners. Am retired now and I was told that if our practice employed “physician extenders” all of us would be reimbursed at a higher rate. No brainer at that time and this story has a very nice ending. I was young, stupid and o.k. with that.
My assigned N.P. said she was stupid and got pregnant at 19. Was a “good” Catholic girl and married the guy. He was an idiot and divorced him. Later married a school teacher who I can testify is a really nice guy.
She decided to go into nursing and perhaps she was in the same hospital I was at doing my residency (though I never met her) and then decided to get a masters and become a new thing called “Nurse Practitioner”.
Enter our financially distressed practice that was “told” by the gubbermint that we’d get reimbursed more if we employed “physician extenders”.
Enter Debbie who worked with me for over 20 years in said clinic, I took care of her Mom and Dad and I still get a birthday and Christmas card from her and her husband who is a cool guy too.
If there was any problem out of her realm, she’d be on my ass in an instant. If I was in the middle of the day, if she tapped me on the shoulder with, “I got this case.” I knew I would have to be thinking real hard about it. We had some direct admissions out of this.
She retired first as she was older than me and I got out off it a couple of years later.
Kurt
Ohhhhh my! So glad I read my emails this am and found your post!
Never a truer analogy has been made about the healthcare ‘industry’. Did you ever think of it a chance to be a “streetwalkin’ ho” when you first got into healthcare? Me neither! Yet here we are, walk-in’ the streets.
It’s almost 8:00, gotta go and find some Johns and Rosemarys.
Ah, they’ll find you.
Best analogy I’ve seen yet for this crap. You made me laugh, and get madder, and laugh again all at the same time. Bravo Natalie!