Page 1 of 3: Alert: Shortage of 200,000 Doctors Predicted in US

archan · Credits: 1266 My Scrapbook

Shortage of 200,000 Doctors Predicted in US by 2020

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 02 - Over the next two decades, a shortage of 200,000 physicians could occur in the US unless measures are taken to curb current economic and medical trends, according to a new report. Still, what should be done to remedy the problem remains unclear.

The report, which is authored by Dr. Richard A. Cooper, from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, appears in the November 2nd issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

For the last 2 decades, medical school and residency program policy decisions have been based on the premise that there would be an impending physician surplus, Dr. Cooper notes. Not only did this surplus never materialize, he adds, but there is increasing evidence that a shortage of clinicians is on the horizon.

Using a planning model that couples economic growth to health care spending and physician demand, Dr. Cooper was able to estimate the magnitude of a physician shortage or surplus in the coming decades.

His conclusion? There is a physician shortage that is just beginning now, but will likely increase dramatically in the next 20 years. By 2020, there could be a shortage of 200,000 doctors -- about 20% of the required workforce.

"The picture that emerges is uncomplicated and unambiguous. In simple numeric terms, the number of physicians is no longer keeping up with population growth," Dr. Cooper concludes.

In a related editorial Dr. Alan M. Garber, from the Stanford University School of Medicine in California, and Dr. Harold C. Sox, from the American College of Physicians in Philadelphia, write that "increasing the supply of physicians gradually, in small increments -- ones that would not require major new investments in capital or teaching personnel -- is a prudent strategy."

Ann Intern Med 2004;141:705-714,732-734.

MoneeshMittal · Credits: 1491 My Scrapbook

Is this true?????????????? I think this is a good news for Indian Docs. Hope the embassy ppl are also listening..........R U??????????? Thanx Archan

sunnymamc · Credits: 77491 My Scrapbook My Reading List 262569 Books

hi
i am doing post graduation in radiotherapy(radiation oncology) can u please tell me about the scope of this branch in USA

bye

solute · Credits: 151 My Scrapbook

ARE YOU IN INDIA OR US? IF YOU ARE IN INDIA THEN I THINK WRITING USMLE AND GOING TO USA WOULD BE WASTE OF TIME.

MunishLapsia · Credits: 9000 My Scrapbook

2020 is quite far.... 15 more years to go and I am sure the Americans won't let this happen.
Nevertheless it is a good news for every IMG

What would help the IMG more directly is an increase in the no residency positions...
Would hope to hear that news someday!

bhoullion · Credits: 924 My Scrapbook

Yea what Archan wrote earlier in this post is true, in fact situation has already started to get worse and by 2008 shortage could actually start to be felt. This is due to ageing of baby boomers in USA and due to dramatic increase in incidence of chronic disease. However, keep in mind the demand for IMG's due to this projected shortage will be mainly in family practice, internal medicine and gerontologyand PCP's. There are lots of issues involved here..SO JUST KEEP ON STUDYING FOR MLE..AND DONT GET EXCITED OR DEPRESSED BY ANY NEWS. For those who are curious to know more ..see the

Angus, D.C., Kelley, M.A., Schmitz, R.J., White, A., Popovich, J. (2000). Current and projected workforce requirements for care of critically and patients with pulmonary disease: Can we meet the requirements of the ageing population? For COMPACCS

Cooper RA, Getzen TE, McKee JH and Laud P. Economic and demographic trends signaling and impending physician shortage. Health Affairs. Volume 21. Number 1. January-February 2002

Kovner CT, Mezey M, and Harrington C. Who cares for older adults? Workforce implications of an ageing society. Health Affairs. Volume 21. Number 5. September-October 2002.

Mullan, F. Time-capsule thinking: Healthcare workforce, Past and future. Health Affairs. Volume 21. Number 5. September-October 2002.

LEAVE IT FOLKS..JUST STUDY.

BEST OF LUCK

BHOULLION

rajju077 · Credits: 34271 My Scrapbook My Reading List 1 Books

and it says the same, that there will be a acute shortage of doctors. and if by 2008 the shortage is indeed felt, then i stand a chance

zohaib · Credits: 2767 My Scrapbook

thank you archan and bhoullion. The news is worth noticing at times exciting to IMG but as bhoullion puts it the only way it is going to help us is that we help ourselves. IMGs are gifted lot and if dedicated to their cause will definetly prove a major force in the emerging scenario!

dinesh789 · Credits: 950 My Scrapbook My Reading List 3 Books

we already heard these types of news but they are not true to enough. these are just estimation which is not true to be longer.

bhoullion · Credits: 924 My Scrapbook

The situation is not going to be as scary as these studies predict but its definately going to be much worse than it is today. Thats for sure. Now how US is going to deal with it is a matter of conjencture...whether thru increasing output of its own physicians, altering the mix of them, using physician extenders, thru immigrant physicians..etc..no one can make a certain claim about that at this time.

So if we have already decided to give USMLE ..then go for it and give it as soon as we can. US is not going to be UK for indian docs..if you get residency, you will get a job and for getting a residency match we will have to get better scores.

Bhoullion

		Sign In New User? Sign Up Sign in to access your control panel and messenger!
				TechZone \| SpiderNevi \| HowTo? \| Scrapbook!