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Press ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseDec. 11, 2003
VERMONT FACES GROWING SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS There is a nationwide shortage of physicians in some specialties, according to an article published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and that shortage is expected to worsen as the population grows older and requires more physician care. For rural areas of Vermont, which historically have been underserved, the growing national shortage will make it even tougher to find enough doctors to care for Vermonters. Already symptoms of the problem are appearing. At a recent job fair for new physicians at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, there were six openings for orthopedic surgeons in Vermont, five openings for urologists, and five positions available for psychiatrists. “Predicting physician workforce shortage/availability has historically been very difficult, but it looks like we may be heading into a worsening of our current physician shortage,” said Mildred A. Reardon, M.D., associate dean for primary care at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. With greater competition from other states for available physicians, “it’s going to be more of a challenge for us to recruit and emphasizes the value of the Freeman Foundation scholarship program,” she said. Hospitals on the eastern side of Vermont are having a difficult time recruiting specialists, including cardiologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and orthopedic surgeons, said Paul Bengtson, CEO of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury. Vermont communities are facing stiff competition from New Hampshire where physicians tend to be paid better rates, he said. “The more rural parts of Vermont are very much at risk for losing specialty care coverage,” Bengtson said. If that happens, residents will have to drive much longer distances to access specialty care, he said. The distribution of specialists in Vermont has long been uneven. According to a Vermont Department of Health survey from 2000, the number of specialists in the Northeast Kingdom, Lamoille County, Franklin County, and Addison County were all far below the statewide average of 110 specialists per 100,000 population. Central Vermont, the Upper Connecticut Valley, and Rutland County were moderately below the statewide average. Only Chittenden, Bennington, and Windham counties had an above average number of specialists. Part of the reason that some Vermont counties have difficulty attracting physicians, Reardon said, is that doctors considering practicing in rural areas face long hours because there are relatively few other specialists to share coverage with on nights and weekends. But an even more important factor is low payment for physician services compared to other states. If reimbursement levels are low into the future, Vermont will have a harder time retaining physicians who are considering moving elsewhere. Vermont has started several programs that provide incentives for physicians to practice in the state. The Vermont General Assembly has allocated $250,000 to fund an educational loan repayment program for health care professionals through the Department of Health. The loan repayments are administered by the University of Vermont Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program. In addition, the Freeman Foundation has been providing an annual gift of $2 million to the UVM College of Medicine which helps recruit needed physicians. Medical students are eligible for scholarships up to $10,000 a year for committing to practice in Vermont. About 135 Freeman Foundation scholarship recipients are currently doing their residencies at hospitals around the country and will be looking to fill needed positions in Vermont once their training is finished. Part of the Freeman Foundation gift is used to repay the medical school loans of physicians who are recruited to practice in Vermont. A new initiative being started by the Vermont Medical Society will also help increase the supply of physicians in the state. The Vermont Medical Society Education and Research Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization, will provide grants to deserving students enrolled at the UVM College of Medicine. The foundation’s grants will help excellent candidates pursue a career in medicine and provide motivation for graduates to practice in Vermont. -30- http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2003j/1209.dtl |
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