A new report from the American Academy of Family Physicians warns of too few family doctors to meet the future primary care needs of patients in every state. In Utah, the number of family physicians needs to increase by 49 percent during the next 14 years, according to the study.
Currently, Utah has 682 family doctors; that need will jump to 1,017 by 2020, the report says.
David Bjorkman, dean of the University of Utah's School of Medicine, said the problem will hit all doctors, not just family physicians.
"The need is so dire and expansive there's no way we can meet it," he said. "Flat out, Utah needs more doctors."
Researchers from the U.'s School of Medicine and the Utah Medical Education Council analyzed the demand for primary care and projected future needs based on expected growth in population, the age of state residents, the age of current primary care providers in the state and other factors.
About 30 Utah family physicians headed to Washington for the rally. E.J. Corry, a family physician in Pleasant Grove, was among them.
Corry is concerned that inadequate numbers of students are choosing family medicine, and argues the government needs to increase funding for resident training and reimbursements for the care of Medicare patients.
"They need to understand the role family physicians have," Corry said. "Many patients like the idea of having a doctor who takes care of their children, who delivers their babies and takes care of their grandparents in the nursing home."
Corry's malpractice premiums have tripled to about $45,000 since he began practicing 18 years ago. While he has privileges to deliver babies at American Fork Hospital and Timpanogos Regional Medical Center, he worries that young, less established doctors won't be able to afford the necessary insurance for hospital settings.
Bjorkman also wants Congress to dole out more money for resident training and boost Medicare reimbursements. A study is under way to determine how much it would cost to expand the U. medical school's student body. Each class has 102 students - only two more than when Bjorkman attended the medical school.
Attracting residents, interns and fellows to Utah also is a challenge, he said, partly because of higher salaries elsewhere.
A steady decline in the percentage of U.S. physicians who were family physicians began in 1980, according to the Annals of Family Medicine. The percentage of U.S. medical graduates interested in pursuing family medicine also has been dropping.
Nationwide, by 2020, the number of family physicians must increase by 39 percent, the AAFP report states. Utah and North Carolina tied for sixth place among states needing the largest increases. Nevada needs the steepest increase, a 79 percent jump, the report said.
"We need a Congress that finally fixes our troubled health care system, and we can't wait any longer," said Larry Fields, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. ''As America's population ages and chronic disease increases, we face a serious shortfall in the number of family doctors needed in every state.''
chamilton@sltrib.com
By 2020, the number of family physicians nationwide must increase by 39 percent, says a new report from American Academy of Family Physicians. Utah and North Carolina will need 49 percent more doctors and tied for sixth place.
WORST PREPARED STATES:
1. Nevada (needs 79 percent increase)
2. Arizona (76 percent)
3. Florida (63 percent)
4. Texas (52 percent)
5. Idaho (51 percent)
6. Tied: Utah (49 percent), North Carolina (49 percent)
BEST PREPARED STATES:
1. Washington, D.C. (5 percent)
2. West Virginia (23 percent)
3. North Dakota (24 percent)
4. Tied: Iowa (25 percent), New York (25 percent), Ohio (25 percent)
Source: Family Physician Workforce Reform: Recommendations of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Health care a priority for Americans
In a voter poll conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians:
* Voters rated health care as a top priority for Congress and the president - equally as important as Iraq and terrorism - and second only to the economy.
* One-third (32 percent) said the U.S. health care system is not meeting the needs of the workers and their families.
* Two-thirds (68 percent) said the current system is failing to meet the needs of most Americans.
* Nine out of 10 (90 percent) say the next Congress must address the changes needed in the health care system in the next two to four years.
* Two-thirds (67 percent) say they will be upset if Congress does not act.
* Ninety-five percent say that some level of reform is needed for the country's health care system.
* Almost six in 10 (57 percent) say a great deal of reform is required.
The national survey of 800 likely voters was conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians by Public Opinion Strategies and Lake Research Partners Sept. 11 to 13. A copy of the Guide to Health Issues for voters is available at http://www.familydoctor.org.
