Opinion: One simple fix for the primary care shortage: assistant physicians
A recent study by the Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of between 17,800 and 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034. A December 2021 survey found that one in three physicians and advanced practice registered nurses intends to reduce their work hours, and one in five physicians plans to retire.
By sheer number, the shortage is projected to be the worst in California, Texas, and Florida. Making matters worse, graduates of U.S. and Canadian medical schools must complete at least one year of residency after graduation and pass Step 3 of the standardized U.S. Medical Licensing Exam to get a license to practice as a nonspecialist general practitioner, yet the number of medical school graduates exceeds the number of residency positions. Many graduates are stuck in limbo: They can neither apply the knowledge they acquired in school, nor hone and develop those skills in a residency program.
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