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Is The US Doctor Shortage Getting Worse?

  • By Locums, Inc
  • •
  • 06 Feb, 2019
A Shortfall Of Up To 100,000 Physicians Is Expected In The U.S By 2025 By 2025, there will be an estimated shortfall of 35,600 primary care physicians and non-primary care specialties are set to experience a shortfall of 60,300 physicians.[1] These findings, made in 2016, are consistent with a 2015 report which also reported there… The post Is The US Doctor Shortage Getting Worse? appeared first on Locums, Inc..

A Shortfall Of Up To 100,000 Physicians Is Expected In The U.S By 2025

By 2025, there will be an estimated shortfall of 35,600 primary care physicians and non-primary care specialties are set to experience a shortfall of 60,300 physicians.
These findings, made in 2016, are consistent with a 2015 report which also reported there will be a steep decline in specialists. This could not come at a worse time as the demand for physicians in America is on the rise.
It is especially bad news given the Trump administrations’ proposed travel ban which could see an estimated 70,000 physicians—if the band is put into full affect—forced to leave the country.

Primary Care Physicians In Highest Demand

It’s possible primary care physicians will make up a third of the looming shortage—making it even more difficult for you to see your primary care physician.
Primary care physicians handle check-ups as well as referring patients on to specialists. Essentially, these are our first line of defense for our health. Without access to regular checkups, it could cause American hospitals to see an overspill of seriously ill patients.

What This Means For Patients

The primary care gap is more acute in roughly one-third of states, with these states having less than half of their primary care needs met.
The following numbers shows the percentage of care primary each state has, according to government statistics [2] :
  • Connecticut: 15%
  • Missouri: 30%
  • Rhode Island 33%
  • Alaska: 35%
  • North Dakota: 37%
Because doctors tend to cluster in big cities with high population density, it means the rural areas—as well as smaller communities—have a hard time acquiring and keeping primary care physicians. Which makes it more difficult for patients in those areas to acquire the health care they require on a regular basis.

What This Means For Health Care Facility Managers

Since primary care physicians are paid less than specialists, it’s treated as either a stepping stone into a specialty, or ignored completely.
The starting salary for specialties can range from $350,000 to as much as $600,000. In stark contrast, a primary care physician earns between $188,000 and a $199,000.
For health care facility managers, this makes it difficult to find and keep primary care physicians. Fewer American medical students are choosing this path, and those who normally would fill the numbers are on the verge on never being allowed back into the country—at least with the current president in power.

The Shortage Of Doctors Is Only Getting Worse

The reason fewer Americans are choosing to become primary care physicians isn’t just the money. Although that certainly plays a role.
The other problem, beside pay, is that being a primary care physician isn’t seen as glamorous—after all, a primary care physician doesn’t perform heart surgery, or brain surgery. All they really do is help to prevent you needing any sort of major surgery. Or, at least, mitigating some of the damage,
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Top 5 Reasons Why Doctors Are Opting For Locum Tenens Jobs

By Locums, Inc • 18 Feb, 2019
According to a study, about 94% of medical centers have appointed locum tenens doctors in the last twelve months. This growing number directly reflects the transforming healthcare industry, requirements of new facilities, and also the unique career choices which are available to healthcare professionals. Whether you are starting your career, or looking for a career change,… The post Top 5 Reasons Why Doctors Are Opting For Locum Tenens Jobs appeared first on Locums, Inc..

5 Ways Hospitals Benefit from Using Locum Tenens

By Locums, Inc • 18 Feb, 2019
Locum tenens literally means “to stand in one’s place.” The main concept stands for travelling, or freelance physicians, specialised doctors and healthcare professionals. This concept has got popular in the past few years and has made a tremendous impact on the medical industry. Currently, thousands of hospitals are recruiting locum tenens to improve outcomes, empower… The post 5 Ways Hospitals Benefit from Using Locum Tenens appeared first on Locums, Inc..

Healthcare Trends

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
U.S. healthcare system continue to evolve, with new technologies and programs designed to make care more accessible for Americans. The goal  for healthcare providers is to help make care more efficient and accessible for as many Americans as possible. In this blog we’re going to explore three trends which are working towards that goal. 1.… The post Healthcare Trends appeared first on Locums, Inc..

Aging In Place…American Aged Care..!

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
Aging in place: the big trend in American aged care 3 things you should know about aging in place http://aginginplace.com defines aging in place as: “Living where you have lived for years, typically not in a health care environment, using product, services and conveniences which allow you to remain home as circumstances change…you continue to… The post Aging In Place…American Aged Care..! appeared first on Locums, Inc..

4 Reasons To Use Locum Tenens Providers

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
FOUR REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD USE LOCUM TENENS First off, what’s the meaning of locum tenens? Locum tenens is a Latin word that roughly translates into “to hold a place”. Locum tenens physicians help or replace other physicians on a temporary basis, from a few days span to like six months or more. Locum tenens… The post 4 Reasons To Use Locum Tenens Providers appeared first on Locums, Inc..

Educating Patients In A Dental Practice

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
The link between dental health and overall health: Healthcare is a business. A business that involves educating prospective patients on why your practice is better than your competitors. It also involves educating patients on regular check-ups being better than waiting for an emergency, or a severe problem. Now, to most dentists this is obvious. A… The post Educating Patients In A Dental Practice appeared first on Locums, Inc..

The “Gig” Economy In American Healthcare

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
Have you heard of the gig economy, and how it’s helping keep American healthcare afloat? The gig economy: from Uber to TaskRabbit and many others, the gig economy over the last 3 years has seen massive growth. And there’s one industry which has been doing gig work since about the 70s, and now it’s set… The post The “Gig” Economy In American Healthcare appeared first on Locums, Inc..

Responsibilites Of A Chief Medical Officer

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
America is seeing an increase in the number of physicians taking on leadership positions in healthcare systems across the country. The benefit of this to patients is that leadership roles are being taken by people who understand the importance of patients and patient care. Chief Medical Officers who were physicians understand that the financial bottom… The post Responsibilites Of A Chief Medical Officer appeared first on Locums, Inc..

The Changing Face Of Healthcare

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
The changing face of healthcare in America Will It Be A Question Of Either IPhone Or Healthcare? Once a glib remark about low-income Americans having to decide between a shiny new iPhone and healthcare. This has prompted political commentators to question if the republicans understand what it is for low-income Americans to be able to… The post The Changing Face Of Healthcare appeared first on Locums, Inc..

Demand For Locum Tenens Staff Increases

By Locums, Inc • 06 Feb, 2019
Did You Know 94% Of Healthcare Facility Managers Used Locum Tenens During The Last 12 Months? Temporary staffing in the healthcare industry has been around since the 1970s. Forty years later and it has become the ideal solution for managing today’s healthcare environment. The ability for healthcare facility managers to hire physicians, nurses or other… The post Demand For Locum Tenens Staff Increases appeared first on Locums, Inc..
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