Question

Nationally, there is a shortage for primary health care providers, such as family practice physicians and other generalists and this shortage is expected to increase with the aging baby boomer population. Research why this shortage exists and what actions are being taken to correct it.

1. What are the educational requirements for generalists vs. specialist physicians?
2. Are there enough education programs, internships and residencies available? Why or why not?
3. What is the average pay for a generalist vs. a specialist?
4. Considering all you have learned during this exercise, why does the shortage still exist?
5. Until more generalist physicians are available, how can we meet the need for primary care providers?

Answer 1

generalists physician:
The educational requirement for general physician need a bachelors degree in pre-medicine and have to complete medical residency for primary care practice.
Specialist physician:
The educational requirement needs a bachelor of science degree with one year of pre-medicine university studies and an additional of the specialty residency program.
There was rapid growht in medical school graduates, but there is a deficit in the US residency program. the total number of medical graduates increased yearly and there were high internal medicine gradutas in the US.there was a rapid growth in medical school graduate but there is in shortage of residency positions going to increase in the next ten years.
Generalist average salary in the US starting from $50,012 and $63,557.
the specialist average salary in the US in the different area vary from $3,29000 - $ 5,00,000
The reason behind the PCP shortage due to most of the population health insurance is under the Affordable Care Act and Patient protection it expands the health insurance market it reduce the physician reimbursement. due to high population growth and aging population, it is still important to eliminate primary care health professional shortage in the US