Profession
Geriatricians in short supply
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 17, 2004
Senior citizens in 2030 are going to have a much harder time finding a geriatrician than today's seniors do, according to a new report from the American Geriatrics Society and the Assn. Of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs.
There are 7,500 certified geriatricians in the United States, while the current elderly population merits 14,000 such physicians, the report said. By 2030, some 36,000 geriatricians will be needed, as the baby boomer population ages. The report did not estimate how many geriatricians would actually be practicing in this field by then. However, it noted that on average only 75% of the 350 residency positions are filled each year, due to a lack of geriatric academicians and the lack of financial incentives for practicing geriatricians.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/05/17/prbf0517.htm.
