The Coming Doctor Shortage

Our population is getting older - quickly. We Baby Boomers, probably the largest generation this country has ever seen, are no longer babies, even though we'll never admit it.
We can attempt to fight the clock all we want with activity, and diets, and surgery, and a gazillion anti-wrinkle creams, but the fact remains that time is marching on, taking us right along with it.
Memories and organs are failing, medication bottles are lining up on the kitchen countertop and my mother is starting to peer at me in the mirror when I brush my teeth.
But instead of lamenting about this inevitable process, I think it behooves us to tackle this next stage of our lives head on as we have done with everything else.
We've already redefined retirement [what retirement? I'm starting a new career.] Let's make aging our own as well.
Gone are the patients who obediently took pills and blindly followed medical advice. Necessity is going to dictate that we make use of what few doctors are going to be available to us as we age. Those precious minutes in the office need to count for all they're worth.

I highly recommend the following:

• Make a list of questions you might have as well as symptoms you are having before you go in to your doctor’s office. That way you won’t forget anything.
• Make sure you include a list of all medications you take, including anything over the counter (yes, those herbs you take for your memory are important – some of them can lengthen bleeding time).
• Question everything. Don’t be afraid to be labelled a pest. Contrary to what you may believe, doctors appreciate patients who take charge of their health.
• If you are given a diagnosis you don’t understand, ask for more information. Most doctors now are taking full advantage of the Web and are happy to give printouts of information or can tell you where to find it.
• If you are uncomfortable with the options your doctor has given you, get a second opinion. It’s definitely worth the peace of mind.
• Don’t be afraid to do your homework. Look things up yourself. There are great resources on the Web now. The more you know, the more you can question. The more you question, the more you’ll know.
• Don’t take any medication that you don’t know the ingredients of or the purpose of. Make sure your doctor knows all your allergies and past drug reactions.

Yes, the practice of medicine is going to get tougher as fewer doctors are available to a growing population but we can be advocates for ourselves and those we love.

Oh, and don't call me a Senior.

Ever.