Almost 2 in 3 physicians say there aren’t enough qualified doctors to fill openings in their area, in another sign of how the health care workforce is straining to meet patient demand.
The big picture: Mergers and acquisitions of practices, turnover from pandemic-era burnout and expansion into underserved areas are raising doubts about whether the nationwide shortage of doctors will ease over the next decade, a Medscape survey of 1,001 physicians found.
- Clinics’ struggles with insurer reimbursements and supply costs may be driving more patients to hospitals, which increases demand for more doctors, market analysts said.
By the numbers: 63% of respondents said there was a shortage of qualified applicants for physician openings in their area, especially in primary care.
- 30% said the number of qualified applicants for those jobs has declined from three years ago, while 22% believe the quality has risen.
- Most physicians aren’t confident in an improvement anytime soon, citing concerns around the quantity and quality of the evolving workforce.
The shortage of doctors in the U.S. is rising and projected to reach into the tens of thousands over the next decade, per the Association of American Medical Colleges.
- Medscape found there weren’t meaningful regional differences in full-time physician job postings, though providers in the Northeast and West were more frequently hiring for part-time roles.
What they’re saying: Respondents granted anonymity by Medscape said applications for medical schools haven’t increased sufficiently to keep up with future demand.
- Hospitals may outbid independent group practices with higher salaries that are attractive to young specialists with high amounts of debt.
- Demand for anesthesiologists is surging between hospital operating rooms, surgical centers and physician and dentist offices.
Yes, but: Respondents cited an increase in qualified applicants for nurse and physician assistant positions over the prior three years.
- Maddi Davidson, a principal at Avalere Health, told Medscape that providers facing worsening quality may have to place practical experience over education levels in hiring for nurse, support staff and managerial roles.
Between the lines: While the jobs situation is grim, only 16% of respondents said their employer or practice was turning away new patients as a result.
What we’re watching: Analysts question how much patient wait times and quick access to doctors could suffer at individual practices or hospitals with many vacancies.
- Meanwhile, more states are making accommodations for foreign-trained doctors to get licensed. Health employers also are increasingly helping immigrant physicians obtain visas and green cards in order to fill openings.