CompuServe Thread

#National Health Care

2 messages in this thread
#196978From: Ken MillerNov 19, 1991 7:13 PM
David, Nurses from 2 year nursing school in many cases can start at $35-40,000 per year…more than a Master's Engineering grad from MIT and more than a school teacher with a Master's degree and 20 years of experience. The doctors I know all make more than $200,000 per year. Some are making more than $1,000,000 per year. $50,000 or even $100,000 per year in malpractice insurance still does not make this a "low paying profession". Suppose 8 years of med school and specialization cost $25,000 per year in fees and $40,000 per year in forgone income. That is an "opportunity cost" of $520,000 max. That investment is easily amortized by payments of $60,000 per year. Since other well educated professionals (engineers, college professors and lawyers) typically make $40-60,000 per year, It would not be unreasonable for a physician to command a salary of $50,000 base $60,000 training premium and $50,000 liability insurance or $110,000 per year. Most MD's that I know will not work for that little.
#197019From: David R. Aberman, M.D.Nov 19, 1991 8:43 PM
Oh, now I understand. Gee Ken, sorry you hav to make so little. I guess I'm one of those guys you mentioned (certainly not the 1,000,000. I'm a doctor and I don't know anybody making that kind of money from medicine alone.), and I still say it's not a fortune. BTW, where can nurses out of a two year program make $35K/yr? The best ICU nurses in Nevada at the top of the salary scale make only $50-60K/year. I haven't seen a 2 year diploma nurse in years. Starting RN's make about $35k. Is that a fortune? David