Thousands of trained doctors can't practice due to a residency bottleneck. Private investment — not Washington — can fix the shortage.
Earlier this month, fourth-year medical students around the country learned news that will shape the rest of their careers. . Some of those who failed to match in this first round will find a spot through a supplemental round.
But still, thousands of medical students will find themselves locked out of residency. That’s a strange outcome for a country facing a growing doctor shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could be short as many as The shortage of residency slots is in part the result of federal policy. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 capped the number ofCreating residency programs in those areas is one of the most effective ways to address that gap. Physicians tend to practice where they train. One study found that doctors who spent more than half their residency in rural areas were far more likely to stay there long-term.Those are worthy efforts. But they’ll take years to pay off. Residents are licensed physicians who begin treating patients on day one. Funding the creation of more residencies could immediately expand the supply of care.If philanthropists and health systems are serious about addressing the physician shortage, they should focus less on producing more medical students and more on ensuring those already trained can complete their education. Sally C. Pipes is President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is The messenger is the message in Iran’s Islamabad talks
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