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Florida struggles with lack of residency slots

Residency Program Insider, August 4, 2017

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Although it increased residency positions by 19% since 2013, Florida still has a long way to go to overcome a projected shortage of 7,000 physicians by 2025. The state has taken steps to increase training opportunities, including funding more than 4,500 residency positions through $80 million in state and matching funds and providing $100 million in bonuses for hospitals that create residency slots in certain needed specialties.

Despite these efforts, the number of available positions comes up short compared to other states. For example, Florida offered less than 500 internal medicine slots this year, compared to New York?s 1,500. Meanwhile, the growth of medical schools in the state has only increased competition for those positions.

Relief may be on the way. HCA Healthcare plans to expand residency positions in the state by more than 1,300 in the next five years by turning its community hospitals into teaching hospitals. Also, legislation introduced earlier this year by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson that would create an additional 15,000 Medicare-funded positions over the next five years.

Source: WLRN

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