WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Medical students on proposed health care reform

Medical students on proposed health care reform

By Melanie Ruberti - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - A vote on President Barack Obama's health care reform is inevitable. But up and coming doctors are wondering what the future may hold for them.

Second year Mercer Medical School student Allen Ligon, is studying for a big exam. But his concentration Wednesday night will be more focused on President Obama's speech on health care reform.

He feels the proposal should include more ideas from doctors who deal with it every day.

"I think that's the main thing they need to realize. When you're dealing with medical situations, payments, this and that, who's your best resource? It's going to be a doctor. Someone who's in that field every day," explained Allen.

Second year medical student Joshua Stripling sees the benefits and drawbacks to Obama's health care proposal. "I think health care reform definitely needs to occur," he said.

While the plan will allow a chance for every American to get health insurance, many wonder what it will cost taxpayers, health care systems and doctors.

"It's not so much that you worry about getting paid," Joshua said. "It's the physician who has to do a lot more things now than just be a physician."

Things like deal with insurance companies and paperwork. And that has caused some medical students to think twice about their career choice.

Dr. Shauna Zaren with the Mercer University Medical School at Memorial University Medical Center, says the health care reform could cause some students to look elsewhere.

"I think they are a little nervous. I think they may be reconsidering other paths to take in the medical field," Dr. Zaren said. "If they really do love medicine, they may be doing more primary care and things of that nature."

President Obama wants health coverage for everyone, making a government option available. The President also will talk about allowing people to keep their current insurance plan if they want and make health care affordable and accessible to people currently without it.

That would alleviate overcrowding problems in our emergency rooms, lack of payment issues and paper work for doctors.

President Obama also puts more emphasis on creating positions for primary care physicians.

"Fortunately, I started medical school wanting to do internal medicine, which is a primary care specialty to which Obama is hoping those jobs will increase," said Stripling. "So for me, it doesn't change my outlook at all. It actually makes things a little better."

Allen agreed. He said no matter what Obama says Wednesday night, his decision to become a doctor will remain the same.

"I just keep in mind every day that no matter what happens with reform, they can change it," said Allen. "I could make nothing in a year and I could deal with insurance all day, but if I get to take care of one person each day, then to me, that's still worth it."

The President's speech to Congress will be broadcast live on WTOC starting at 8pm.

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