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Wednesday, May 17, 2006Long time readers will have noticed that the frequency and quality of posts have been declining over the past several months. That is because I no longer have the time needed to devote to it. The phrase "declining reimbursement and rising overhead," is repeated so often in medicine that it seems a cliche, but it's also a reality. I'm spending longer hours at work and seeing more patients to support my office and my family. The 1-2 hours a day it takes to keep up the blog are no longer there. I don't have any hope of that getting better in the foreseeable future. In fact, I anticipate that in the next 1-2 years, I'll be adding even more office hours until I've reached the limits of my physical and mental capabilities. I've also come to realize that I've been neglecting my family too long. When I went to a conference last month, I took my children with me. The time I had alone with them reminded me how much I enjoy their company. And it reminded me of how much I've been missing. In another three years, my oldest will leave home and start his own life. The other three will follow in quick succession. I want to enjoy the time I have with them with as little distraction as possible. Work is a necessary distraction. Blogging isn't. My youngest son really drove the lesson home for me on Mother's Day, when he gave me his gift - a flower accompanied by a paragraph written in school. It said, "My mom's a doctor. She owns her own office. She spends all day seeing patients. When she comes home, she does paperwork. But she still has time for me when I scrape my knees." I'd like to have time for him when he hasn't scraped his knees, too. And so, it's with regret that I take the necessary step of closing down this blog. It's been fun, and I'll miss it, but there are other things in life that need - and deserve - my attention more. So long, farewell, readers. The pleasure has been entirely mine. posted by Sydney on 5/17/2006 11:02:00 PM 46 comments 46 Comments:Wow... I hope you leave the blog up. There is wonderful information here. I've been reading medpundit for years! You'll be missed!!
By I truly understand, but want you to know that you will be greatly missed. You made valuable contributions over the years and made people think.
By
Oh man, sorry to see you go, but you have your priorities in the right place and that is what counts. I have enjoyed reading your blog for the last few years. I am a mother of three and work full time also, so I appreciate your struggle. We will miss you, but your children deserve your time. Enjoy and good luck.
By I am also a physician, mother of three and I have been enjoying your blog. Good luck and have a nice life !
By I have so enjoyed your blog. It will really be missed. Family first, though, completely understandable.
We'll miss you too. All the best. Steve Lucas
By
You are going to be greatly missed. I'm sorry to see your blog go. It was very helpful to read. I hope you're able to get that work/life balance back together. Sorry to see you go. I've enjoyed reading it for the past year or so. It is one of a very few blogs that I was reading every day. Will miss you.
By
I can't say that I am surprised, because I have always wondered how you found the time in the first place (shaking her head in admiration of medpundit's time management skills.)
By
Well, my first thought was entirely self centered--how could you leave me. Some months ago I swore off your blog because we often disagreed on "political" positions but I was relauctantly, and then eagerly, drawn to reading it every day. It was funny experiencing a sense of abandonment. But there it was. No doubt exacerbated by the fact that it is part of my daily routine, the fact I recently retired, and have experienced
By I completely understand your dilemma, and wish you all the best!
By
I'd like to thank you for the excellent blog, and hope you return someday.
Don't let them eat you alive, doc! I am sorry that office hours are forcing you to give up blogging; I hope for your own sake that you won't sacrifice other important things to the all-mighty appointment schedule.I will miss your posts.
By Thank you for responding to my suggestion several months ago and telling us honestly about your experiences with electronic medical records. Unfortunatly many of us have become a slave to our medical practices and the ever changing requirements and shrinking reimbursements from managed care organizations. Many of us will probably be forced to quit soon. I will miss your blog, but your health and your family come first. Hang in there.
By
Oh, boy. We will miss you. You have been my inspiration from the start. I am depressed, I feel this was the best medical blog out there. Thanks for the great times
By
Bye. Will miss you.
By
The right decision. I'll miss you all the same.
By A loss to the 'Sphere, but we all (mostly!) understand. Come back to us when you get the urge! I totally understand . . .maybe you can do a "once a week" like many others--just a little "check-in" with the blogosphere! ;o) Enjoy your family!!!!! (Sounds like your kids are the same ages as mine)
By You will be missed. You made an impact on my life. Thanks!
By Sydney, I have to add just one more, "I'm going to miss you" to the list. Medpundit was one of my favorites, and your insights and experiences were terrific. Thanks for the memories.
By I'm going to miss you, too. Thank you for all your encouragement in the beginning! You've done a great job. I've recommended your site to colleagues and patients for a long time. Good luck. Someday I'd like to meet you in person
By Great Blog! Would you consider switching to a MDVIP practice to have more time for patients and your self It has helped me
By I want to echo the encouragement to post once in a while. No schedule and no expectations but when the thought or meed seems appropriate. Just to keep us updated on your life. The medical posts and discussion of your practice was always interesting but I know I came to develop a respect and fondness for your personal integrity and commitment. My Best Wishes
By
Oh, my! I am concerned for your long term mental health.
By Thank you for your time with us sharing your life, wit and wonderful blogs. You were (are) the doyen of medical bloggers.
By
I've been reading you for so long. I too, often wondered how the heck you found time. You will be missed.
By
I'm not a doctor but enjoyed the insights into your world. Thank you for blogging.
By I am very sorry to see you go. Thanks for all of the good insight and information over the years.
By
As I wrote in my post about your decision to close the Medpundit blog, you are the matriarch of the medical blogging community.
By
it would be a shame that you have to close your blog. but you have put forward such a touching case of priorities that everyone will have to agree with you.
By
Your blog has been a wonderful source of level-headed information. Thanks very much, and good luck!!!
By
I can relate as well - with a new job & new baby on the way, I can't imagine how you do it so well and so long with 3 kids & a busy practice.
By
Sydney,
By
I haven't been doing this blogging thing very long at all (and I entered the blogosphere for different reasons - basically because I got royally screwed when public service and "corporate medicine" clashed), but I completely understand where you are coming from.
By Well, hope to see you, read you, again. Thanks.
By
Just a year, your blog was a daily read for me, but lately I've noticed that I've cut back quite a bit, spending more time with work.
By
Echo the call to leave the blog (and especially the name) up.
By
Altough I read your blod only randomly i will miss it...
By
Sydney, I doubt this will resurrect your blog, and I can't make this stuff up, but I just returned home from having coffee with a friend who is married to a doctor. And do you know what the last thing was that she said to me? Please please please blog about how we will not have medical care available as a rule in five years. And do you know what I thought? I have to tell her about Medpundit. And do you know what I then thought? About how I hadn't seen your blog pop up on BrewedFreshDaily's recent NEO list lately. And now I saw it there today, just a few minutes ago, for the first time and smiled, thinking I'd find more of your excellent posting. And instead, I learn that you've had to pull the plug. |
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