How can we solve physician shortage?

Asked by: Mrs. Jany Zieme  |  Last update: January 18, 2026
Score: 5/5 (14 votes)

The AAMC advocates for a multipronged approach to address the physician shortage, including an increase in federal support for residency training; innovation in delivery of patient care, including the greater use of technology; and improved, efficient use of all health professionals on the care team.

How can we fix the physician shortage?

If we are to improve the physician shortage in the U.S., the first step needs to be increased funding for the healthcare industry. Medicare caps also need to be lifted. These two steps alone would improve access to training and enable healthcare facilities to better care for the people in their communities.

Why does the US have a shortage of doctors?

Demographics — specifically, population growth and aging — continue to be the primary drivers for increasing the need for more doctors to meet the health care needs of tomorrow.

What might reduce the demand for primary care physicians?

Expanding the role of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) is another effective strategy. These professionals can provide primary care services and help reduce the burden on physicians.

What is one of the biggest challenges facing physicians today?

Let's take a closer look at the challenges today's physicians must overcome and a few suggestions for improving your own professional experience.
  1. Patient Quotas vs. Patient Care. ...
  2. Burdensome Administrative Tasks. ...
  3. Insurance Complications. ...
  4. Workplace Violence. ...
  5. Burnout.

How to solve the US doctors shortage?

29 related questions found

What are the three biggest issues in healthcare today?

So, let's hop on a journey to explore the 7 biggest challenges of the healthcare industry!
  • Rising Costs of Healthcare Services.
  • Financial Challenges for Providers.
  • Shortage of Healthcare Professionals.
  • The Need for Improved Mental Health Systems.
  • Increased Demand for Personalized Care.
  • Big Data and Cybersecurity Issues.

What has been identified as one of the main reasons for the shortage of physicians?

  • Shifts in physician and patient populations. Thanks to advances in medicine, people are living longer overall. ...
  • Most healthcare workers prefer not to work in rural hospitals. ...
  • Medical school and residency programs are limited. ...
  • Healthcare workers are burnt out. ...
  • Learn more.

What is the main reason physicians are leaving primary care?

Physician Burnout and Its Consequences

The factors contributing to burnout include ongoing physician shortages, system inefficiencies, administrative burdens, and increased regulatory and technology requirements (AMA, 2023).

What are the effects of physician shortage?

The physician shortage is primarily affecting primary care visits in rural areas, leading to the establishment of medical deserts, areas in which residents lack access to pharmacies, primary care providers, and hospitals.

Why are so many doctors not accepting new patients?

For physicians, new patients require more time than someone they've been seeing for years, simply because it takes time to get to fully understand a person's medical history, personal life, and goals.

What specialty has the biggest physician shortages?

Medical specialties with the biggest shortages vary depending on regional needs, technological advancements and patient demographics. However, specialties like primary care, psychiatry and emergency medicine are at the top of the list when it comes to facing significant gaps in healthcare staffing.

Why is there a physician shortage in 2024?

The United States is facing a serious shortage of physicians, largely due to the growth and aging of the population and exacerbated by older physicians who will be retiring soon. Physician shortages pose a real risk to patients — especially for those who have been historically underserved.

Which country has the most shortage of doctors?

Here is a list of countries that need doctors in 2023.
  • South Africa. Physicians per 1000: 0.79. ...
  • Timor Leste. Physicians per 1000: 0.77. ...
  • Egypt. Physicians per 1000: 0.75. ...
  • Myanmar. Physicians per 1000: 0.74. ...
  • Bangladesh. Physicians per 1000: 0.64. ...
  • Indonesia. Physicians per 1000: 0.47. ...
  • Bhutan. Physicians per 1000: 0.46. ...
  • Cote D'Ivorie.

Why is there a shortage of doctors in the USA?

One reason for the expected shortage is that some 20 percent of clinical physicians are aged 65 years or older, putting organizations in the position to soon lose a substantial number of physicians to retirement. “New AAMC report shows continuing projected physician shortage,” AAMC press release, March 21, 2024.

How can we fix lack of healthcare?

Consider the following five evidence-based approaches to improving access to health care.
  1. Expand Insurance to Cover Health Care Costs. ...
  2. Extend Telehealth Services. ...
  3. Invest in Mobile Clinics. ...
  4. Educate the Public About Multiple Health Care Sites. ...
  5. Improve Cultural Responsiveness.

How can the shortage of health professionals be addressed?

Address the physician shortage.

To increase the number of practicing physicians in areas where there are shortages, hospitals can: Expand graduate medical education (GME) slots. Allow internationally-trained physicians to practice with them. Offer loan forgiveness for practicing in shortage areas.

How can we fix physician shortage?

Recommendation #2. Grow the supply of Doctors of Medicine (MDs)
  1. Increase acceptance rates at medical schools in the state. ...
  2. Consider adopting laws that allow physicians to be licensed to practice in more than one state or gain licenses in others states more quickly.
  3. Expand telehealth care.

When did the physician shortage start?

In February 2010, the news-magazine Newsweek published in a report that the "annual number of American medical students who go into primary care has dropped by more than half since 1997" to the point where it had gotten "hard to get an appointment with the doctors who remain".

How is a doctor shortage an economic problem?

In many communities, especially rural ones, healthcare providers are significant employers. A shortage of primary care physicians or clinics that provide primary care can have broader economic implications, affecting jobs, local economies and community well-being.

Why is it so hard to get a primary care physician?

This shortage is attributed to various factors including an aging population (both patients and doctors are getting old), a growing emphasis on specialized medicine which draws physicians away from primary care, and fewer medical graduates choosing primary care as a field.

Why are physicians in high demand?

Despite the rise of nurse practitioners, the demand for primary care physicians remains strong due to an aging, sicker population. Salaries and incentive packages for physicians are increasing, with substantial recruitment packages and creative incentives being offered.

Why is it so hard to see a doctor?

The U.S. is facing a physician shortage, in primary care and many specialties, which can lead to longer wait times for patients and reduced access to care.

What is one potential solution to the primary care physician shortage in this country?

Fortunately, there is a remarkably simple solution: Increase the primary care spend rate. (This is the percentage of health care expenditures from all sources — private and public — devoted to primary care.) Total health care expenditures in the U.S. approached $5 trillion in 2023.

What is causing medical supply shortages?

Shortages of medical devices can occur for many reasons, including manufacturing and quality problems, geopolitical issues, natural disasters, delays, public health emergencies (PHEs), and discontinuations.

What specialties have physician shortages?

The specialties with the lowest supply adequacy in 2037 are vascular surgery (64%), thoracic surgery (66%), other specialists (68%), ophthalmology (68%), family medicine (73%), and plastic surgery (74%).