Impending Physician Shortage: New Medical Schools are Opening, Shortage Still Concerning

The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a shortage of at least 125,000 physicians by the year 2025. The number of residents and fellows increased 8% from 1987 to 2007, according to an AAMC report, but that growth rate will not be enough to match the loss of baby boomer physicians set to retire soon; one in three active physicians currently practicing is 55 or older.

However some experts on work-force issues say new schools are not enough to significantly alleviate the upcoming physician shortage. We have also heard from many of our candidates that with the uncertain future for the medical community because of health care reform many potential applicants are not applying for medical school or changing from pre-med to other disciplines.

Without more federal funding for residency slots or changes in the doctor payment system, the schools are unlikely to avert an overall work-force shortage or address the undersupply of primary care physicians and general surgeons.

Since 2007, more than a dozen allopathic schools have started the Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation process. Another 10 are under discussion, and five osteopathic medical colleges have opened.

There are 13 allopathic schools in the accreditation process, with at least 10 more in the planning stages. In addition, five new osteopathic schools have opened across the country. Educators and physician leaders hope that the graduates of the new schools will help ease a predicted physician shortage, but they add that more funding and residency positions will be needed to avert future holes in the overall work force.

Read the full article in American Medical News, or click here:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/03/29/prl20329.htm