Published CommPro.biz 2014.03.25

Congress Blocking Doctors

Last Friday (2014.03.21) was “Match Day.” On that day thousands of mostly young doctors opened an envelope that confirmed their acceptance into a residency program. In many cases it defines the path their medical career will take for the rest of their working life. In most cases they knew they were in and just awaited final confirmation. For some it was their first choice and this was the first year they had been down this path. For others, they settled for what they could get. Others were back for another try, having missed the cut in earlier years. Still others missed the cut this year and will have to wait for next year, or perhaps the next, or the next, often while staring at a massive student loan debt.

For a nation facing a massive physician shortage –100,000+/- by the end of this decade– this is insanity. The number of residency openings is controlled by the United States Congress. Why there should be a problem with supporting this vital aspect of our healthcare system escapes us. However, we are living under a nearly two decade old cap put in place by the Congress. Given those in that body who are focused on anything but serving the people of the United States, it’s not likely that we’ll see a change.

On the other hand there’s good news. The number of bright young people –split about evenly between men and women– who applied to medical schools and the number enrolled as first-year students hit record highs this year. Add to that a dramatic increase in young doctors choosing family medicine. Five years ago it was under 60% with more than four in ten opting for specialties. This year it’s over 66% with less than one in three aiming for the specialties. That indicates a growing awareness among young doctors that the team-based comprehensive care ACA encourages is where the future lies. Primary care doctors will head-off serious illness in the future, saving lives, improving the lives of their patients and reducing healthcare costs.

There’s a new day dawning; young people entering medicine see it. Beat illness to the draw, make prevention the goal. The old model, treat people after they get sick is on the way out. Paying doctors based on the number of patients they run through their practice is so over. Payment needs to be focused on outcomes, on the overall health of the patients under a doctor’s care. America spends more per patient than any country on this planet. Yet we rank among third world countries when it comes to outcomes. The ACA is a baby step in the right direction.

Our lawmakers need to do the job they were elected to do, to serve the interest of all the people of the United States. They can begin by opening up more residency slots for young doctors who have fought their way into medicine, and are ready to go to work.