I have reported here about the shortage of physicians in the US as well. The problem extends "down under" too. In Australia, they are introducing a "super clinic" concept in various regions and having their own problem finding docs. This story reports amongst other things that they are providing $15,000 bonuses for certain locations. But that is the least of their health workforce problems. Another story reports about the poor credentials from foreign doctors entering the country and what Australia is doing about it.
Ah, herein lies a possible pitfall of socialized medicine and universal health care. Let's say we go to a "socialized" healthcare system here in America, and physician wages begin to fall. We have already seen in my earlier "nurses" post that Filipino doctors can make more being a nurse in America than they can as a doctor in their own country. In this scenario, there will probably be an even longer line of foreign doctors who would love to come here and practice, and some of the slots will be filled. Unfortunately, we may find out as Australia has learned that not all doctors are created equal. Note--our family has used an Indian Doctor, and we like him!
Meanwhile, in Alberta, Canada, their health workforce grew by 4% from 1996 to 2001--mainly due to relocation. "Occupational therapists, respiratory therapists and speech language pathologists were the most likely to move from one place to another, while dentists, licensed practical nurses and medical laboratory technicians were the least likely to relocate," reported a CanWest story.
Norman Wall of the New York Times asks what can be done to reverse this situation? He suggests the following:
- Create more places in American medical schools; there is not a medical school in America that cannot increase its enrollment without lowering its standards.
- Open more medical schools; there are only 125 schools for 300 million people, and with more private support, new schools geared toward training general practitioners would increase the supply of American-trained doctors at a relatively low cost.
- The United States should invest in training doctors and building hospitals overseas, particularly in Africa and Asia.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) should augment the meager pay doctors and health care workers receive in the developing nations so they have a respectable salary.
5 comments:
I think some of this shortage of doctors comes from the idea that medical school is very expensive and the prospect of at least eight years of medical debt before even earning money is a huge barrier to those interested in the medical field. If these physicians come from well-to-do families already, won't they be accustomed to the high life? I know I'd probably want to make my money -- at least to pay my debts -- and wouldn't be all so interested in doing work for free.
Lack of physicians is one of the possible pitfalls of socialized medicine. Of course, there is a lack of physicians already for those without health insurance!
Socialized medicine or not I imagine the health workforce shortage could expand to a point where it impacts the upper middle classes as well. I have to use the ER as an example again here.
You said something about expanding hospitals overseas? I'm curious how that will help the problem.
I think the point about expanding hospitals overseas has more to do with training people to eventually move here to the U.S. to provide care. I agree, in part, with what Colin is saying. But I also believe that incentivizing (to quote one of Tim's oft-used words) doctors is a good idea. If I'm not mistaken, aren't there some programs that would forgive your medical school debt if you work in a geographic area with a shortage of doctors? If there aren't, there should be.
There are programs that offer forgiveness of medical school debt if you work in a certain area. My friend is considering going to work for a few years on a Reservation for this reason.
It is my understanding that if you go to an area designated HPSA (as Athens used to be), you could have your student loans repaid in some part.
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