Guest posting by Andrew Ta
Whispers of a physician shortage abound, but I have yet to see any real discussion about it, nor have I heard anything regarding possible solutions or mitigation strategies. Just how many physicians will we need as the baby boomer generation enters a phase of life that typically requires increased doctor visits and specialized care? A report released by the Association of American Medical Colleges on March 3 of this year helped quantify the issue. The study, described as the first comprehensive national analysis that accounts for demographic and recent changes to how care is delivered and payment is sorted, predicts a significant shortage of thousands of both primary care and surgical physicians. The report outlines possible solutions and advocates for increased funding for medical education, but I believe it to be best paired with other articles (sourced in the infographic) that further seek to make healthcare and doctors more efficient both through better medical education as well as a greater focus on preventive care. These sentiments jive with recent statements from US Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy.
