> So, if anyone is out there...
 
> How goes medicine as a profession these days?  I'm applying for Medicine
> at
> Auckland and Otago, and want to know how everything is these days, apart
> from what you hear in the media saying how badly under-funded hospitals
> are.
 
Higher numbers of physicians and health-related professionals in the U.S. are 
being 'limited' more on referrals and some types of 'necessary' medical 
treatment...to the major impact that HMOs are having on practices here.  Many 
professionals are now 'employees' - with less autonomy in decisons related to 
diagnostic tests, referrals, and surgery - in some cases.  There are also new 
guidelines/rules expected that relate to "Medicare" and "Medicaid" in 
merica.
 
Under-funded hospitals...I suggest that many "for profit" hospitals are now 
owned by larger Corporations, where the bottom line is profits, not patient 
care.
 
Harry 
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