In an effort to encourage innovation at both state and federal levels to address nationwide physician shortages, the American Medical Association vowed to throw its weight behind outside the box strategies to attract additional providers.
The AMA is urging states to consider pairing with private payers to fund graduate medical education and increase the amount of residency slots available to recent grads.
The board’s vote in support of innovation is an effort to stave off a physician shortage that some estimate will top more than 91,500 by 2020.
“The AMA has long-advocated for increasing the number of medical residency slots to train physicians in needed specialties and regions to improve access to health care,” said AMA Board Member Dr. Stephen Permut in a statement. “As more patients continue to receive health care coverage, it is essential that the next generation of physicians is sufficiently trained. Increasing funding for graduate medical education will help us accomplish that.”
Locally, however, Dallas-Fort Worth appears poised to avoid the shortage. As D Healthcare Daily reported earlier this month, Dallas County increased physician supply from 215 to 245 physicians per 100,000 residents between 2007 and 2013. And despite having the highest population growth rate in the country, Collin County boosted its practitioners from 170 to 200 physicians per 100,000 residents during that same timeframe.
