What is causing the physician shortage in the United States?

Asked by: Prof. Anissa Hegmann  |  Last update: August 12, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (25 votes)

Why is there a physician shortage? While the driving force of the doctor shortage in the US can't be tied to one specific cause, there are a number of contributing factors. Primary among them is the fact that human life expectancy is longer than ever before—and as the population ages, healthcare needs increase.

What is one cause leading to a shortage of primary care general practice physicians in the United States?

Unfavorable demographics and PCPs leaving the profession

Both patients and doctors are getting older. As patients age, they tend to need more care from their PCPs to address the proliferation of medical problems and medications that inevitably comes with aging.

Why is there a shortage of doctors and nurses in the US?

Other reasons include burnout (overworked employees are leaving the profession at an accelerating rate); the rise in chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease (leading to overextended staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities); and the nation's inability to produce ...

Is the US facing a physician shortage?

According to AAMC data, the United States faces a projected physician shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, with demand for physicians outpacing supply. The nation's demographics—particularly population growth and aging—serve as the primary driver of increasing demand for physician services.

Why is it so hard to see a doctor now?

As doctors retire and hospitals expand their capacity, wait times and demands for current providers have only increased. Not only is the supply of healthcare providers decreasing, but demand is increasing.

Why Does America Have So Few Doctors?

36 related questions found

How can we solve physician shortage?

There are many additional options being discussed and evaluated to address the shortage, including among them: reducing costs of medical education and related financial burdens, initiating Medicaid reform, improving distribution of physicians to rural communities via incentives and other strategies, increasing ...

Why are doctors so rushed?

The average primary care doctor manages between 1,500 and 2,300 patients, depending on the practice. So the access to your doctor is often one reason appointment slots must be shorter. The more patients a doctor is responsible for, the fewer time he or she can spend with each individual patient.

What states have the highest doctor shortage?

Ten states predicted to have the greatest shortages of physicians by 2030:
  • California — 32,669.
  • Florida — 21,978.
  • Texas — 20,420.
  • Arizona — 8,280.
  • Georgia — 8,012.
  • North Carolina — 7,725.
  • Illinois — 6,203.
  • Washington — 6,037.

What medical specialty has the most shortage?

Here's the projected shortage of physicians by specialty through 2025:
  • Cardiology: 7,080.
  • Ophthalmology: 6,180.
  • Orthopedic surgery: 5,050.
  • Urology: 3,630.
  • General surgery: 2,970.
  • Cardiothoracic surgery: 1,800.
  • Gastroenterology: 1,630.
  • Hematology/Oncology: 1,400.

Which country has the most shortage of doctors?

With a glaring domestic shortage of healthcare professionals, the United Kingdom has always strived to address it with foreign professionals. 15% of the healthcare workforce is comprised of professionals from other countries.

Are doctors in USA paid much more than nurses?

In fact, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, doctors typically earn an average annual salary of about $200,000 or more. Nurse practitioners, on the other hand, earn approximately $111,840 each year.

Why are so many nurses quitting?

Widespread burnout driven by the COVID-19 pandemic is still causing major challenges across the healthcare workforce. While nurses have reported feeling burned out, leading them to consider leaving their jobs throughout the pandemic, physicians have also expressed those sentiments in more recent surveys.

Why do doctors make more than nurses?

It's all about the salary

On another note, let's focus on this one objective finding. Doctors have a higher salary than the nurses, mainly because of their education, title, and license. While this may be indulging disparity, that is how the world have went on in the past, and will always be in the future.

What are the three major reasons there will be an increase in the demand for physicians and all health care workers in the next decade?

Why Health Care Workers Are in Such High Demand
  • Physicians Are Rethinking Their Career Paths. ...
  • Health Care Is Coming Out of Hospitals and Into the Community. ...
  • Technology Continues to Impact Health Care. ...
  • We're Getting Older and Living Longer. ...
  • Growth Tends to Spur More Growth.

Why is there a shortage of physicians in rural areas?

According to the AAMC, three out of five federally designated health professional shortage areas are in rural regions. Because rural residents tend to be older, poorer, and sicker, those areas need more physicians now and in the future, he said.

Why are the number of specialists increasing?

The major driving force behind the increasing number of medical specialists is the development of medical technology. The rapid advances in medical technology continuously expanded the diagnostic and therapeutic options at the disposal of physician specialists.

What is the hardest medical field to go into?

Based on our comprehensive analysis, the top most competitive specialties are as follows:
  • Plastic Surgery.
  • ENT.
  • Dermatology.
  • Orthopedic Surgery.
  • Neurosurgery.
  • Thoracic Surgery.
  • Urology.
  • Vascular Surgery.

What is the most profitable medical specialty?

Doximity found that the 20 specialties with the highest average annual compensation in 2022 tend to be surgical and procedural specialties treating adult patients. Neurosurgery comes out on top, followed by thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

What is the most difficult job in the medical field?

Top 10 Most Stressful Jobs in Healthcare
  • Nurse's Aide. ...
  • Respiratory Therapist. ...
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) ...
  • Registered Nurse (RN) ...
  • Physician Assistant. ...
  • Physician (General Practice) ...
  • Surgeon. ...
  • Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) EMTs are the first responders and is #1 for the most stressful jobs.

What states pay doctors the least?

13 states with the lowest physician pay
  • Maryland: $306,000.
  • Colorado: $327,000.
  • Virginia: $330,000.
  • Massachusetts: $331,000.
  • Arizona: $334,000.
  • Washington: $338,000.
  • Tennessee: $340,000.
  • Pennsylvania: $344,000.

What state is easiest to become a doctor?

Below are three U.S. States that grant medical licenses the quickest:
  • New York. Employment, malpractice, privileges, and medical licenses are not verified in New York, making it one of the fastest states to get medical licenses. ...
  • Indiana. ...
  • Michigan. ...
  • Massachusetts. ...
  • Texas. ...
  • New Jersey.

What states pay doctors best?

It's the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., according to the report "2020's Best and Worst States for Doctors." After Mississippi, the other four best states when it comes to wages are: South Dakota, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Why are so many doctors broke?

Physicians, despite their high income, are vulnerable to financial instability due to factors like student loan debt, the cost of private practice, insurance reimbursements, and lifestyle choices. Prudent financial habits and professional financial advice can contribute to better financial stability.

What is the busiest day at the doctors?

It's widely agreed that GP surgeries are busiest on Monday mornings, so this might be a time to avoid if you can. “Things appear over the weekend, and people hang on because they don't want to go to A&E,” says Dr Bhatia, adding Tuesdays after Bank Holiday weekends can be hectic, too.

Do some doctors regret becoming doctors?

Researchers discovered only 57.5 percent of physicians said they would choose to become a physician again, compared to 72.2 percent of physicians in 2020.