A new commentary in The Health Care Blog examines the growing physician workforce shortage in the U.S., citing projections of shortages ranging from 86,000 physicians by 2036 to 187,130 by 2037, depending on the methodology used. The article attributes the problem to several factors, including limits on federally funded residency positions, physician education debt, burnout and geographic maldistribution.
The impact is particularly pronounced in rural communities, which the article says have substantially fewer physicians per capita than urban areas. It also highlights shortages across specialties and the potential effects on wait times and access to specialized care.
Proposed responses include adding 14,000 Medicare-funded residency positions over seven years and creating loan-repayment incentives for specialists who practice in rural shortage areas. The author argues that residency capacity, medical education financing and physician workload all need to be addressed together.