A recent report asserts that reforming the healthcare system to cover some or all of America's 47 million uninsured, as proposed by some 2008 presidential candidates, would increase demand for healthcare services and exacerbate physician and nurse shortages.
"There is a critical connection between access to healthcare and the supply of physicians, nurses and other medical professionals," said Susan Nowakowski, president and chief executive officer of AMN Healthcare Services. "The candidates are suggesting positive healthcare reforms, but to be effective, their plans should take into account the need for more doctors and nurses."
According to the report released by AMN Healthcare titled "Physician and Nurse Supply: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle," the United States has a shortfall of 120,000 nurses and will experience a deficit of 350,000 by 2020. The report also cites a growing physician shortage, which is projected to reach between 85,000 and 200,000 by 2020.
In examining the leading presidential candidates' healthcare reform proposals, the report said only a few of the candidates are calling for increased nurse training. Researchers have said the United States needs 110,000 new nurses each year to keep up with healthcare needs. The report also said none of the candidates have proposed to increase the number of physicians trained in the United States.
AMN Healthcare suggests that the key to increasing physician supply is creating more residency training slots at the nation's teaching hospitals, but none of the candidates' reform proposals advocates this step.
"If the goal is to provide broader access to healthcare, it will be essential that the public policy makers also address the availability of a trained clinical workforce required to deliver on the promise," Nowakowski said. "With or without universal healthcare, increasing physician and nurse supply should be a national priority."
Does your healthcare facility have enough staff to accommodate an increase in patients anticipated under a universal health insurance program? Emai Associate Editor Chelsey Ledue at chelsey.ledue@healthcarefinancenews.com to share your thoughts.