An interactive map released by the American College of Surgeons identifies physician shortages in different states by coloring regions in different shades based on the density of available providers. Ten states, including Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Mississippi and Iowa, have between 33-38 surgeons per 100,000-person population, the lowest density of surgeons in the country. The lowest physician densities exist in Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona and Mississippi, which have between 154-175 physicians per 100,000-person population.
To tackle the problem, various states are trying to bulk up their residency programs to attract future physicians. Virginia is attempting to establish more medical education programs and deal with the problem of graduated physicians migrating to other areas, according to a Roanoke Times report. In Virginia, only 39 percent of medical residents practice in the state.
Yet funds for medical residency programs are scarce. In Michigan, federal funding to pay for medical residences at hospitals and physician practices remains frozen, and local funds are needed to fund the programs, according to an M Live report.
Michigan State University plans to expand its College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids, doubling the school’s capacity. New medical schools are also planned by Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant and Oakland University in Rochester, doubling the capacity for medical education in the state. That means the state must also increase the number of residency slots for those graduating physicians.
In Virginia, grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are helping medical schools add residency spots.
Read the Roanoke News report on Virginia residency programs.
Read the M Live report on Michigan residency programs.
View the interactive physician distribution map from the American College of Surgeons.
