Will We Have Enough Doctors?

Is it too late to reverse the physician shortage?

According to an article in HealthLeaders Magazine concerns about a future shortage of doctors may be too late. Peter Fine, CEO of Banner Health in Phoenix, says the shortage is already here.

Several factors are to blame:

- One third of practicing physicians is over the age of 55
- U.S. Medical Schools have not provided for the loss of 33 percent of the physician workforce - by the year 2020, the nation may be short anywhere from 24,000 to 200,000 physicians
- Studies show that younger physicians coming out of training do not want to put in 80-hour work weeks required by certain specialties - it may take two younger doctors to equal one current doctor
- Aging baby-boomers are poised to increase the number of people over 62 from 46 million to 83 million - and older Americans tend to utilize health care services more

To combat shortages in specific areas such as Family Practice, Gastroenterology, and Urology, some managed care systems are having their hospitals recruit and hire physicians as employees, with enticing packages. Despite promises of newly constructed medical facilities to beautiful beaches within a short drive, many doctors coming out of training aren’t biting.

Ultimately, however, the United States may be forced to do what other industrialized countries such as Great Britain are having to do: import physicians from abroad, such as Asia or the Middle East.