Physician shortage expected by 2020

Enrollment in U.S. medical schools should be increased 30 percent by 2015 to ensure quality health care for an aging and growing population, according to a new report by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

AAMC bases the recommendation on a projected population growth of 25 million people each decade and a doubling in the number of people over 65 between 2000 and 2030. The next generation to hit their 60s, 70s and 80s are the aging Baby Boomers, and besides that group wanting quality care to stay active in their later years, the large batch of Baby Boomer physicians who currently make up 1 in 3 of health care providers are likely to retire by 2020.

“Given the extensive time it takes to educate and train tomorrow’s doctors, efforts to increase enrollment must get underway as soon as possible to ensure that the health care needs of the nation in 2015 and beyond are met,” said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen in a press release.

To accommodate additional U.S. medical graduates in teaching hospital residency training programs, the AAMC calls for increased public support of graduate medical education, specifically removing the cap on the number of residency positions funded by Medicare.

For more information, read the official AAMC Statement on the Physician Workforce.