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Physician shortage continues

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, November 11, 2008

Although the physician workforce remains stagnant, numbers of potential patients continue to grow, leading to a low physician-to-population ratio in the health care industry, according to “The global health workforce shortage: Role of surgeons and other providers,” published in the 2008 Advances in Surgery.

“The emergency room has become the primary care physician after 5 p.m. for much of the population,” states the article. Because nearly half of primary care practices lack after-hour care, patients instead seek emergency care. This physician shortage is evidenced by long patient wait times for appointments and an expanding hospitalist movement.

The paper recommends medical schools expand their class sizes, and that students choose a medical specialty aside from primary care.

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