The president of the Dauphin County Medical Society says the perfect storm is forming that could cause a doctors’ shortage in the mid-state.
One of the biggest contributing factors is that baby boomers are getting older. Living longer requires more medical care and people also often require more medications.
“The projections are that in almost every specialty and particularly in primary care, there will be a real shortage of physicians and it will become more difficult to see doctors, longer waiting times,” explained Dr. John Goldman, MD, the President of Dauphin County Medical Society. “It’ll simply be more difficult to get into an office.”
In addition to more older people, Dr. Goldman says physicians are aging too and retiring. He said the Affordable Health Care Act means insurance will be available to more people.
As for the number of new physicians, Goldman says medical schools are doing their job. He says that by 2015 the number of graduates will increase to fill all the slots for residences.
“The only way to increase the number of physicians is to increase the number of residency slots,” Dr. Goldman explained. The nature and amount of training after medical school and get the training you need before you can truly begin to practice medicine.”
Dr. Goldman says students who train in Pennsylvania tend to stay in Pennsylvania. But the medical malpractice climate in the commonwealth is a competitive disadvantage. Tort reform could go a long way to keeping physicians in the state.
One of the biggest contributing factors is that baby boomers are getting older. Living longer requires more medical care and people also often require more medications.
“The projections are that in almost every specialty and particularly in primary care, there will be a real shortage of physicians and it will become more difficult to see doctors, longer waiting times,” explained Dr. John Goldman, MD, the President of Dauphin County Medical Society. “It’ll simply be more difficult to get into an office.”
In addition to more older people, Dr. Goldman says physicians are aging too and retiring. He said the Affordable Health Care Act means insurance will be available to more people.
As for the number of new physicians, Goldman says medical schools are doing their job. He says that by 2015 the number of graduates will increase to fill all the slots for residences.
“The only way to increase the number of physicians is to increase the number of residency slots,” Dr. Goldman explained. The nature and amount of training after medical school and get the training you need before you can truly begin to practice medicine.”
Dr. Goldman says students who train in Pennsylvania tend to stay in Pennsylvania. But the medical malpractice climate in the commonwealth is a competitive disadvantage. Tort reform could go a long way to keeping physicians in the state.