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Looming Physician Shortages Continue to Make Headlines

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published recent survey results that demonstrated a significant decline in the number of medical students who intend to go into Primary Care.  An abysmal 2% of students planned to go into Primary Care Internal Medicine and 5% into Family Medicine.  This in the face of the aging Baby Boomer population and the obvious need for more physicians to manage their care (estimates are 85,000 physicians short by 2020.) 

Family Physicians, general Internists, and Pediatricians make less than 50% of the salaries of some of our specialist counterparts - while this is not the only reason for entering specialties, it contributes.  We are in essence paid more to fix problems with procedures than to prevent them with good care.  I think Dean Ornish hit the nail on the head with his article "The Collapse of Primary Care" in Newsweek where he states:
 

For example, insurance companies pay more than $30,000 to amputate a diabetic foot even though most amputations are preventable by scrupulous foot care organized by a primary care doctor for a few hundred dollars and which is often not even covered by insurance or Medicare.

I think once we figure out our priorities as a country, the rest should fall into place - although not without a significant sacrifice from all involved.  

Even Barak Obama has indicated that there is a significant problem in the works - this in response to the AAFP Candidate Survey question dealing with Workforce Development: What is your plan to increase the number of medical students who choose family medicine and primary care?

To increase the number of medical students who choose family medicine and primary care, I will expand funding—including loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training curricula, and infrastructure support to improve working conditions—to ensure a strong workforce that will champion prevention and public health activities.

Senator John McCain did not respond to the AAFP Candidate Survey.

I am headed to the American Academy of Family Practitioners Scientific Assembly this week, and I look forward to hearing the opinions of my colleagues.  In fact, I am really interested to hear what actionable ideas and solutions the AAFP leadership has versus ideas bubbling up from those of us in the trenches.  What can we do to make a difference?

If you want to share your thoughts in person, stop by to see me at Booth 1616 at AAFP.

Jason Bhan, MD Co-Founder, Ozmosis