I was a patient at Westside Family Medicine from 2009 to 2018 (I only left because you were no longer in-network for my insurance). I had a great experience -- I saw both you and Dr. Rachel for a period of time -- and am glad that I was still on an email distribution list when you launched Full Stack Family Medicine. I truly enjoy reading your insights on the field of medicine, as well as other subjects (definitely going to give The Bear a shot after this week!).
In particular, your thoughts on consolidation and Big Medicine have resonated with me. My mom has worked as a technician in an optometrist's office in PA for 20+ years, and in 2020, the doctor/owner sold the practice to a national corporate chain with private equity ownership. Your perspective on the challenges of remaining an independent practice that prioritizes caring for patients closely echo my mom's frustrations around transitioning from that independent, local, patient-centric model to a cog in the Big Medicine machine where maximizing profit trumps all other priorities. I am grateful that doctors like you are still out there, and deeply troubled about the long-term consequences of all this consolidation and corporatization.
All this to say, thank you from a former patient (and writer by trade!) for taking time to write and share this excellent newsletter. I genuinely look forward to seeing it in my inbox on Sundays.
I too am proud of Georgia! I’m also grateful for your, what I call, a REAL medical practice. Hang in there! XO!
Hi Dr. Bregman,
I was a patient at Westside Family Medicine from 2009 to 2018 (I only left because you were no longer in-network for my insurance). I had a great experience -- I saw both you and Dr. Rachel for a period of time -- and am glad that I was still on an email distribution list when you launched Full Stack Family Medicine. I truly enjoy reading your insights on the field of medicine, as well as other subjects (definitely going to give The Bear a shot after this week!).
In particular, your thoughts on consolidation and Big Medicine have resonated with me. My mom has worked as a technician in an optometrist's office in PA for 20+ years, and in 2020, the doctor/owner sold the practice to a national corporate chain with private equity ownership. Your perspective on the challenges of remaining an independent practice that prioritizes caring for patients closely echo my mom's frustrations around transitioning from that independent, local, patient-centric model to a cog in the Big Medicine machine where maximizing profit trumps all other priorities. I am grateful that doctors like you are still out there, and deeply troubled about the long-term consequences of all this consolidation and corporatization.
All this to say, thank you from a former patient (and writer by trade!) for taking time to write and share this excellent newsletter. I genuinely look forward to seeing it in my inbox on Sundays.
Great piece! West Side Medicine remains a gem in the landscape that you describe.