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US Has Huge Shortage of Primary Care Docs

Health care reform efforts may suffer

By Jess Kilby,  Newser User

Posted Jun 20, 2009 2:41 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Congress may be unable to agree on the details of an overhauled health care system, but there’s one fact on which there’s little debate: America urgently needs more primary care doctors. Experts predict the nationwide shortage of family physicians will reach 40,000 within the next decade, a shortfall that could become “much more severe” if the US moves toward universal health care, the Washington Post reports.

The various health care reform proposals include incentives to coax medical students away from lucrative specialist areas and into family practice, but experts note the dozen years it takes to train a doctor means there’s no quick fix for the shortage. And changing perceptions among med students may be the biggest hurdle. "The attitude is that primary care is a fallback if you're not smart enough or good enough," said one recent graduate.

Dr. Alexis Dunne talks with patient Michael McCoy, right, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Chicago where she plans to be a primary care doctor.
Dr. Alexis Dunne talks with patient Michael McCoy, right, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Chicago where she plans to be a primary care doctor.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Only 2 percent of nearly 1,200 fourth-year medical students said they plan to work in primary care internal medicine, according to a new survey. That's down from 9 percent in a similar survey in 1990.
Only 2 percent of nearly 1,200 fourth-year medical students said they plan to work in primary care internal medicine, according to a new survey. That's down from 9 percent in a similar survey in 1990.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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There's definitely a huge bias against family medicine and primary care.
- Winston Liaw, who is serving his residency at Fairfax Family Practice

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
Jun 20, 2009 9:31 AM CDT
I hear ya man.........as Al would say on the sitcom "Happy Days".....EEEE yep yep yep yep...
kokuaguy
Jun 20, 2009 8:32 AM CDT
Yes, the medical "profession" has more and more in common with the lawyers all the time- it's all about the money. Bring on single payer !!! We can take care of the shortage easily with an increased number of H-1B "specialty occupation" visas.
riffran
Jun 20, 2009 8:26 AM CDT
Unfortunately, the "doctor" calling is getting more and more money driven, malpractice insurance alone can cost in excess of 100g a year. Get into a specialty niche, such as OB/GYN, or something really crazy like say an en-utero-neonatal cardio-thoracic surgeon..and wow!..I don't even want to know how much THAT insurance would run......but specialties are where the big bucks are

 
shortage • health care reform • primary care • doctors

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