Study: Acute shortage of adult primary care MDs coming

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

A new study appearing in the journal Health Affairs attaches some numbers to a problem we all see coming--the growing U.S. shortage of primary care physicians. According to the study, by 2025 the U.S. will see a shortage of 35,000 to 44,000 family or general internal medicine physicians who care for adults. Worse, with population growth and an aging population figured in, existing family physicians and general internists will see their workloads grow by a substantial 29 percent by 2025 (versus 2005 levels) if nothing is done.

To learn more about the study:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report item
- check out the study abstract

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WA hospitals struggle with extreme ED overloads

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:59:56 -0400

While emergency departments are overloaded across the U.S., few regions are struggling quite as hard as Washington state's King County area, where overflowing facilities are closing EDs as often as six times a month, according to area officials. The problem seems to be a more-intense version of issues that are cropping up nationally, including a flood of uninsured patients, a primary-care physician shortage and an aging population, and an unusual influx of patients with winter illnesses like the flu. No one is sure why things are quite so bad now, but this is about the worst even the most experienced veterans in the region have seen, according to a report in the Seattle Times. This summer, hospitals hope to get some help in the form of a new system that routes ambulances around the county more efficiently. Also, one of the area's trauma hospitals plans to open 50 beds. However, it seems the region will remain in crisis for while unless bed supply increases further--or patient influx slows down.

To learn more about the Puget Sound area's hospital crisis:
- read this Seattle Times piece

Related Articles:
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Hospitals develop strategies to cope with ED overloads. Editorial
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Aging Population

Study: Acute shortage of adult primary care MDs coming

WA hospitals struggle with extreme ED overloads