Did you miss Doctor’s Day?
You can be forgiven for thinking yesterday was anything more than a nice day to watch college hoops.
It was, but it also was National Doctor’s Day.
The American Medical Association uses the day to honor the more than 900,000 physicians in the United States.
“On this day of tribute, Americans can express appreciation for physicians’ continued commitment to providing exceptional medical care,” according to an AMA release.
The nation’s doctors, throughout almost 1 billion patient visits annually, are called to be healers, confidants and advocates, the AMA says.
The organization also says two-thirds of U.S. doctors provide some form of charity care and in 2006 were ranked the nation’s most trusted occupation.
Furthermore, the AMA says:
- Ninety percent of patients say they are very satisfied with their doctor.
- Americans’ life expectancy has increased by seven years since 1960.
- There has been a 77 percent decrease in the infant mortality rate since 1950.
- There has been a 63 percent decrease in the overall death rate for heart disease since 1950.
- There has been a 72 percent decrease in the overall death rate for stroke since 1950.
- There has been a 14 percent decrease in the overall death rates for cancer since 1990.
Do you consider the medical profession admirable and respectable? Do you respect your physician? Are you satisfied with him/her? Drop me a line at The Medicine Bag blog at http://blog.newsok.com/health.
Now back to basketball!
Jeff Raymond, Medical Writer
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