Note to Congress: It ’s your fault there’s a physician shortage

When you go to the internet or phone book today, there are hundreds of physicians listed in most urban areas. In the next two decades, you can expect more difficulty finding a physician in your hometown — a major physician shortage is looming. In the last year, I have noted many mid-career physicians are leaving the practice of medicine. While the growth of mid-level hospital administrators has ballooned at nearly 3,000 percent, fewer students are entering medical school. In fact, according to Compdata Surveys, hospital administrators now account for a large proportion of the costs of health care. The impending physician shortage will affect both primary care as well as numerous essential subspecialties. When I was in medical school, I was told that specialists — such as cardiologists — would be in abundance and I would not be able to get a job. I have been a practicing cardiologist for almost 17 years now. Based on the current report, it is expected that we will see a shortfall of nearly 100K doctors by the year 2030. A closer look at the predictions show that we will have a shortage of 40K physicians in the critical area of primary care as well as a shortage of nearly 60K physicians in specialties such as allergy and immunology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and infectious disease. In general surgery, the report predicts that there will be 30K fewer surgeons than are needed to provide care to those who need it. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Policy Heart Source Type: blogs