Profession
MSMS predicts Michigan physician shortfall
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 12, 2005
The Michigan State Medical Society expects the state will be short 6,000 physicians by 2020 as it realizes a modest increase in population alongside an even larger increase in the number of residents 65 and older.
The society sought the state work force analysis in response to national forecasts for a physician shortage of anywhere from 85,000 to 200,000 by 2020. An outside company conducted the analysis. Currently the state has 30,000 practicing physicians, with one third of them in primary care.
The Michigan physician work force study is available online, in pdf format msms.org/bsyp/news/physicianshortagefull.pdf.
The American Medical Association supports the concept that a physician shortage is at hand, but it qualifies its stance by stating that shortages are limited to certain specialties and regions.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/09/12/prbf0912.htm.