tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post4850116585981376140..comments2010-01-29T17:12:01.146-05:00Lead Physician: Ponce Primary Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706824618947286575noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post-1409292174307739332010-01-29T17:12:01.146-05:002010-01-29T17:12:01.146-05:00I definitely agree. I am an internist. I have been asked countless times "exactly what is an internist?" The name is bad. I've taken to referring to myself as a primary care doctor for adults, which people seem to relate to better. Then, I typically get the follow-up question: "how is that different from family practice?" I answer, "I don't take care of pregnant women or children, and my training was more hospital based." All that being said, we in primary care: Family Practice, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, do need to unite to form a common voice, given the problems that you discuss with respect to recruiting medical residents to our profession. On Thursday of next week I plan to attend Doctor's Day at the Capitol in Atlanta as an advocate for ACP to speak with legislators. On my agenda will certainly be a discussion of the unique problems faced by primary care physicians within our healthcare system--primarily resulting from falling reimbursement from insurers coupled with increased bureaucratic demands.Juliet Mavromatis, MDhttp://www.drmavromatis.comnoreply@blogger.com