Posted by Should they increase Residency spots for IMG? from IP 65.209.120.239 on November 18, 2008 at 11:50:51:
Survey suggests there may be a shortage of primary-care physicians.
USA Today (11/18, Rubin) reports that "of virtually every primary-care doctor in the USA, as well as 50,000 doctors in subspecialties," found that "more than 3 of 4 respondents said they believed there was a shortage of primary-care doctors."
Nearly "half the respondents said they planned to reduce patient loads or stop practicing within the next 3 years," and more than 50% "said they wouldn't recommend that young people pursue careers in medicine."
Ted Epperly, M.D., "president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, called the survey findings 'pretty close to accurate.'"
Dr. Epperly pointed out that the U.S. "healthcare system 'tends to undervalue what it is that a primary-care doctor does,'" and that medical school students realize they can "pay off their accumulating debt" much faster by becoming specialists.