The nation is currently preoccupied with debates on policies and payment problems in healthcare. As these disputes continue, a crisis has been silently brewing behind the scenes. Physician shortages are becoming a real threat to patients and hospitals.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has released the numbers: Based on a recent survey, it is possible that the United States will face an estimated shortage on physicians of up to 104,900 by 2030.[1] The huge gap between patient and physician numbers is indeed alarming, which translates to a circumstance where patients may not be able to see a doctor even during emergency situations. Could telemedicine be the answer to such shortages?
Addressing Physician Shortage
Medical advances have resulted in a life expectancy increase, and those who live longer require more medical care. Some studies suggest that physicians are now retiring at a young age because of regulatory burdens. Additionally, more of them opt for non-clinical jobs.
The American Medical Association believes that the shortage can be reversed with the help of proper education and more residency slots around the country.[2] The AAMC suggests some additional solutions, including innovating the methods of care delivery and making use of technology.[3]
Telemedicine and Low Physician Numbers
According to a study conducted by researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, telemedicine is the solution to the low numbers of physicians nationwide.[4] Telemedicine provides the necessary innovative approach to service delivery.
One of the ways that telemedicine can help with the lack of physicians in the country is by allowing physicians to use their time to treat more patients. A physician’s time is precious, especially now that there may soon be insufficient numbers of professionals in healthcare. There are still patients who cancel their appointments and usually do so at the very last minute. When this happens, physicians gain extra time but have no patients to see. This is where telemedicine becomes beneficial for them because that available time can be used for treating other patients.
Telemedicine can help widen the pool of physicians by connecting hospitals with physicians across the country. For the most part, physician shortages have hit rural areas, making it difficult for many rural hospitals to retain existing physicians and recruit new ones to work for them. It is also hard for the hospitals to provide patients with physicians who can treat those with special requirements. Telemedicine can help improve access to these rural hospitals for specialists so that patients can get the quality of care they need.
Telemedicine enables physicians to help more patients in less time, from just about anywhere. As telemedicine continues to scale up, shortages of physicians are likely to be less of a problem.
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References
[1] https://www.aamc.org/download/458082/data/2016_complexities_of_supply_and_demand_projections.pdf
[2] http://www.healthitoutcomes.com/doc/ama-outlines-ways-to-address-physician-shortages-0001
[3] https://news.aamc.org/press-releases/article/workforce_projections_03142017/
[4] http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/tmj.2013.0344