Study Predicts Massive Doctor Shortage in US by 2025

[Chef Ramsay]

U.S. faces 90,000 doctor shortage by 2025, medical school association warns

The United States faces a shortage of as many as 90,000 physicians by 2025, including a critical need for specialists to treat an aging population that will increasingly live with chronic disease, the association that represents medical schools and teaching hospitals reported Tuesday.

The nation's shortage of primary care physicians has received considerable attention in recent years, but the Association of American Medical Colleges report predicts that the greatest shortfall, on a percentage basis, will be in the demand for surgeons — especially those who treat diseases more common to older people, such as cancer.

In addition to the growing and aging population, full implementation of the Affordable Care Act in all 50 states would increase demand for doctors as more people are covered by insurance. But Obamacare's impact will be small — just 2 percent of the projected growth in demand, the organization said. The supply of doctors also will grow but not nearly as quickly as the need, officials said.

More...http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/03/03/u-s-faces-90000-doctor-shortage-by-2025-medical-school-association-warns/

[BADecker]

Is this necessarily a bad thing?

I don't have references for what I am about to say, but...

In 1977 (I believe it was) the doctors in Orange County, California, went on strike for a month. The newspapers reported 50% fewer deaths that month. The reason? Maybe there weren't any doctors who would sign death certificates that month. But maybe it was the other thing.

If anyone has any info regarding this, some links to sites, or some newspaper listings, it might be interesting.

[Chef Ramsay]

I read somewhere in the last year or so that only 10-20% of med students were going to become general practitioner and the rest were going to specialize. Typically, you need to see your GP prior to getting a referral to see a specialist which can be troublesome. Furthermore, you got an immigration situation where the borders are open and amnesty right around the corner and you're adding millions more people over and above all the current Americans that are forced to have health insurance, thus you're adding tens of millions of people to the current health system w/ a depleting amount of overall doctors so care will be curtailed and managed dollar-wise and/or longer lines to see one's doctor so service and care will falter across the board.

[bryant.coleman]

The Americans will import doctors from third world nations such as India, Nigeria and Cuba, just like what they are doing right now. Actually it is much better for the US. It costs millions of USD to train a doctor. By importing doctors from foreign nations, the Americans are saving this huge expense. Both the sides are gaining. Third world doctors will get good salary, and the Americans will not face physician shortage.