Dive Brief:
- The debate over how to meet future demands for physicians is heating up.
- New medical schools are opening in the US and veterans' hospitals are expanding their residency programs.
- Some experts believe that changes to healthcare delivery systems will actually reduce the demand for physicians.
Dive Insight:
Last year, the Institue of Medicine (IOM) released a controversial report that said physician shortages are caused by poor geographic distribution and disproportionate ratios of primary care and other specialty physicians. The report also said that new technologies and other healthcare innovations might ease some of the problems.
The Association of American Medical Colleges believes the solution is to expand Medicare funding for GME. The IOM believes the solution is to reform GME.
The IOM report recommended establishing a Health and Human Services policy council for GME that would work on solving the geographic distribution and specialty configuration issues. It also recommended that more programs be moved out of academic medical centers and into community clinic settings.