Doc shortage means longer waits for patients

Patients in Massachusetts are waiting longer to see specialists than ever before as a direct result of the state's physician shortage, a new report finds. The amount of time patients must wait to see specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and orthopedic surgery is now three to six weeks.

The study, which was conducted by the Massachusetts Medical Society as part of its annual Physician Workforce Study, concludes that waiting times are getting worse, in large part because the state's physician shortage is more severe than it used to be. "It used to be two to three weeks," said  Dr. Allen Harvey. "These trends are not in the best interests of patients."

- see this story from the Boston Herald
- see this study by the Massachusetts Medical Society (pdf)

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