Commission: State needs more primary care doctors

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The study, which also made recommendations for addressing the problem, noted that shortages exist across the U.S., primarily because of the number of physicians who are retiring, the growing population and longer lifespans. The report also found that student debt and other educational limitations are hindering new physician training.

Statewide, approximately 32,300 physicians are engaged in patient care, or 253 per 100,000 people. Of these, 11,000 practice primary care, or about 86 per 100,000 people. The commonwealth ranks 10th in the U.S. for physicians actively engaged in patient care and 18th in the number of primary care physicians.

In Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties, there are 225-299 physicians actively engaged in patient care per 100,000 people. Dauphin County has more than 300 per 100,000 people.

Although there are 155 health professional shortage areas for primary care and 118 mental health HPSAs in Pennsylvania, none was identified in the midstate, the report showed. However, the study found that northeastern Dauphin County and eastern Lancaster County are categorized as medically underserved areas. MUAs are determined by the ratio of primary care physicians per 1,000 people, the area’s infant mortality rate, the percentage of the population below the poverty level and the number of residents age 65 and older, the report said.

The study also showed that 27 percent of Pennsylvania’s active physicians are 60 and older, while 51 percent are 50 or older. The state ranks fourth in the nation for the number of medical students, with just under 8,000, and fifth in the nation for residents and fellows, with about 7,700.

To address Pennsylvania’s physician shortage and health care access issues, the commission made six recommendations:

• improving physician workforce data collection and analysis to better understand the problem;
• establishing a state “pipeline” program to encourage and prepare high school students to pursue medical careers;
• encouraging medical schools to implement programs aimed at increasing the state’s physician supply;
• increasing the number of residency positions in order to train more physicians in Pennsylvania and encourage them to remain here;
• offering more generous loan repayment incentives to keep physicians here and attract others from outside the state;
• recruiting more international medical graduates.

Pennsylvania Medical Society President Dr. Karen Rizzo said the recommendations “are a step in the right direction.”

“Pennsylvanians want access to the best educated, best trained health care professionals, and this report spells out how to grow our physician population,” she said. “But statistics about educating young physicians and then retaining them to practice full-time within the state appear to be a concern.”

House Resolution No. 735 of 2014 directed the commission to study the issue of physician shortages and to propose strategies for eliminating physician shortages. The commission established an advisory committee to accomplish these goals. The committee represented state agencies, medical organizations, universities, training centers, health systems and health insurance companies.