EAST LANSING, Mich. – A new study, the latest and most comprehensive of its kind, finds that Michigan is now facing a shortage of certain specialty physicians and will likely face a critical shortage of general practitioners by 2020.
The study, commissioned by the Blue Ribbon Physician Workforce Committee – composed of representatives from the state of Michigan, the state’s four human medical colleges, and other health-related agencies – finds that many parts of Michigan are already feeling the shortage of specialty doctors.
According to the study, a shortage already exists in a number of specialties, including cardiology and orthopedics, and is projected to get worse. By 2020, it is projected that Michigan will have shortages not only in numerous specialties, but also in primary care, which will compound existing access problems.
“Michigan’s health care work force development strategy must remain attentive to the changing market to ensure we are educating the correct mix of specialties,” said Allen Lichter, dean of the University of Michigan Medical School.
Other specialty areas that are facing serious shortages include general surgeons, internists, psychiatrists and radiologists.
Overall, the study predicted Michigan will face a shortage of more than 4,000 doctors within the next 15 years – approximately 12 percent fewer than required to meet the forecasted demand, compared to a projected national shortage of nearly 8 percent.
“A physician shortage of this magnitude will limit access to essential health care services for all of Michigan’s citizens, regardless of where they live, their income or their insurance coverage,” said Marsha Rappley, acting dean of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
According to the report, Michigan currently has nearly 30,000 active patient care physicians. By 2010 the state will be around 900 physicians short; 2,400 short by 2015; and 4,500 short by 2020.
This study is a replication of a national study that was conducted by the Center for Workforce Studies of Albany, N.Y. The center was commissioned by the Blue Ribbon Physician Workforce Committee to look specifically at Michigan’s doctor supply.
“Michigan policy decisions must be based on Michigan-specific data,” said Earl Reisdorff, an emergency room physician at Lansing’s Ingham Regional Medical Center and chairperson of the Michigan committee. “We replicated the national study methodology, but our results reflect the unique characteristics of Michigan’s population and work force.”
The committee was particularly concerned about providing both the quantity and type of physicians to meet the needs of Michigan’s medically underserved, said William Strampel, dean of MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“Our inner city and rural communities already struggle to recruit and retain a sufficient physician work force,” he said, “sometimes requiring years to attract certain types of specialists such as dermatology, orthopedics, psychiatry, cardiology, radiology and general surgery.”
“Efforts to address the shortages must consider the needs of rural and inner city communities,” said Robert Frank, dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “While the medically underserved today are largely those on public health insurance and the low-income uninsured, the medically underserved of the future will include Michigan residents of varying means all over the state.”
This latest study comes on the heels of two other reports which also predict physician shortages.
Last year, the Michigan Department of Community Health surveyed Michigan physicians and found that nearly four of every 10 doctors practicing in Michigan plan to retire within the next 10 years. Released last month, the survey, given annually to doctors as part of their license-renewal procedure, noted that 37 percent of Michigan physicians are 55 years of age or older.
In June 2005, the Michigan State Medical Society released the findings of a study it commissioned, indicating the state could face a shortage of nearly 6,000 physicians by 2020.
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Members of the Blue Ribbon Physician Workforce Committee include:
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- The University of Michigan Medical School
- Wayne State University School of Medicine
- Council on Graduate Medical Education – rep: Henry Ford Hospital
- Council on Graduate Medical Education – rep: Ingham Regional Medical Center
- Michigan Association of Health Plans
- Michigan Department of Community Health
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth
- Michigan Health Council
- Michigan Health and Hospital Association
- Michigan Osteopathic Association
- Michigan Primary Care Association
- Michigan State Medical Society
- Michigan State Area Health Education Center
- Michigan State University Institute for Health Care Studies