Is there a DR shortage in the US?

Asked by: Marcel Prosacco  |  Last update: August 5, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (57 votes)

According to AAMC data, the United States faces a projected physician shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, with demand for physicians outpacing supply. The nation's demographics—particularly population growth and aging—serve as the primary driver of increasing demand for physician services.

Does US have a shortage of doctors?

The short answer is yes. Currently, more than 83 million people in the US live in areas in which access to a primary care physician is scarce. According to data from the AAMC, the United States could see an estimated shortage of up to 124,000 physicians across all specialties by 2034.

Why is it so hard to see a doctor now?

As doctors retire and hospitals expand their capacity, wait times and demands for current providers have only increased. Not only is the supply of healthcare providers decreasing, but demand is increasing.

What states have the highest doctor shortage?

Ten states predicted to have the greatest shortages of physicians by 2030:
  • California — 32,669.
  • Florida — 21,978.
  • Texas — 20,420.
  • Arizona — 8,280.
  • Georgia — 8,012.
  • North Carolina — 7,725.
  • Illinois — 6,203.
  • Washington — 6,037.

What doctor specialties are in shortage?

“We are hearing a lot about an increasing shortage in the surgical specialties, particularly vascular surgery and neurosurgery, but also general surgery, urology, and ophthalmology. And these shortages are severe in some rural areas,” Dr. Orlowski said.

U.S. facing a critical doctor shortage

43 related questions found

What doctor is highest in demand?

In 2022, primary care specialties, such as family and emergency medicine, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology, were some of the most highly recruited specialties on Doximity, as front-line physicians continue to be in high demand. Psychiatry also took two of the top five spots in 2022.

Which doctor is most needed?

Top 7 In-Demand Physician Specialists
  1. Primary care physicians: Primary care physicians specialize in family medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics and pediatrics and are often the first point of contact for patients. ...
  2. Internal medicine. ...
  3. Emergency medicine. ...
  4. Psychiatry. ...
  5. Gynecology. ...
  6. Neurology. ...
  7. Radiology.

What state is easiest to become a doctor?

Below are three U.S. States that grant medical licenses the quickest:
  • New York. Employment, malpractice, privileges, and medical licenses are not verified in New York, making it one of the fastest states to get medical licenses. ...
  • Indiana. ...
  • Michigan. ...
  • Massachusetts. ...
  • Texas. ...
  • New Jersey.

What states pay doctors the least?

13 states with the lowest physician pay
  • Maryland: $306,000.
  • Colorado: $327,000.
  • Virginia: $330,000.
  • Massachusetts: $331,000.
  • Arizona: $334,000.
  • Washington: $338,000.
  • Tennessee: $340,000.
  • Pennsylvania: $344,000.

What states pay doctors best?

It's the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., according to the report "2020's Best and Worst States for Doctors." After Mississippi, the other four best states when it comes to wages are: South Dakota, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa.

What is the wait time for doctors in the US?

That year, the national average wait to get in to see a new physician was 21 days, an unacceptable amount of time to wait to access care. But that number has only gotten worse. In their 2022 survey, the wait for a new patient appointment increased to an average of 26 days.

How often does the average American go to the doctor?

How Often Americans See a Doctor. The average American visits his or her doctor four times per year. On average, babies visit the doctor nine times per year and children between the ages of 5 and 15 visit the doctor two times per year.

Why are doctors so rushed?

The average primary care doctor manages between 1,500 and 2,300 patients, depending on the practice. So the access to your doctor is often one reason appointment slots must be shorter. The more patients a doctor is responsible for, the fewer time he or she can spend with each individual patient.

Which doctors are most in demand in us?

10 Types of physicians needed in the US
  • Emergency physicians. ...
  • Psychiatrists. ...
  • Obstetricians and gynecologists. ...
  • Neurologists. ...
  • Radiologists. ...
  • Anesthesiologists. ...
  • Pediatricians. ...
  • Cardiologists. What they do: Cardiologists focus on diagnosing, treating, and managing cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension and arrhythmias.

What is the largest physician shortage?

Neurology and psychiatry, as well as pulmonary and critical-care medicine, are headed for larger shortfalls than some other specialties, which is in part related to the type of complex, chronic conditions America's aging population must manage. However, primary care is the largest area of concern.

Which country has the most shortage of doctors?

With a glaring domestic shortage of healthcare professionals, the United Kingdom has always strived to address it with foreign professionals. 15% of the healthcare workforce is comprised of professionals from other countries.

What is the best paying job not a doctor?

21 highest-paying nonmedical jobs
  1. Judge. National average salary : $77,295 per year. ...
  2. Nuclear engineer. National average salary: $81,720 per year. ...
  3. Risk manager. National average salary: $84,634 per year. ...
  4. Compensation and benefits manager. ...
  5. Statistician. ...
  6. Finance manager. ...
  7. Front-end developer. ...
  8. Economist.

What type of doctor makes the least money?

What doctors make the most and least money? In their 2021 survey, Doximity found that neurosurgeons make the most money of any specialty, and pediatric infectious disease doctors make the least.

Who is the highest paid doctor in the US?

Neurosurgeons are the highest paid physician specialists, earning an average of $788,313 annually, according to Doximity's "2023 Physician Compensation Report." The results were drawn from survey responses from 190,000 physicians over the last six years, including 31,000 in 2022.

What is the lowest GPA to become a doctor?

What Is the Lowest Acceptable GPA for Med School? A GPA of 3.0 or higher is generally considered to be the minimum requirement for medical schools. Some schools may have a lower minimum requirement, such as a 2.5 or 2.75, but these are less common.

What is the shortest degree to become a doctor?

A general practice doctor is probably the easiest doctor to become. Even though students must complete four years of medical school and one or two years of a residency, this is the minimum amount of education required for medical doctors.

What doctor takes the least time to become?

The shortest residency programs
  • Family medicine: Three years.
  • Internal medicine: Three years.
  • Pediatrics: Three years.
  • Anesthesiology: Four years.
  • Dermatology: Four years.
  • Neurology: Four years.
  • Ophthalmology: Four years.
  • Physical medicine: Four years.

What is the rarest type of doctor?

Five emerging medical specialties you've never heard of — until...
  1. Cancer immunologist. Harnessing the immune system to fight malignancies is a burgeoning area of medicine that's creating huge opportunities for new doctors. ...
  2. Nocturnist. ...
  3. Lifestyle medicine physician. ...
  4. Clinical informatics. ...
  5. Medical virtualist.

What is the most difficult branch of medicine?

Neurosurgery: Neurosurgery is one of the most difficult medical specialties. Neurosurgeons must have knowledge and skill with the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nervous system while treating patients with brain-related illnesses or injuries. Neurosurgeons might specialize in treating adults, children, and infants.

What is the most hectic medical specialty?

Emergency Medicine

Patients expect to be seen and treated quickly, but being short on staff often makes that impossible. That makes emergency medicine an even more stressful medical specialty.