It is well-known that there is a shortage of doctors in rural areas. According to an article in the American Medical News, “Nationwide physician shortages are expected to balloon to 62,900 doctors in five years and 91,500 by 2020, according to new Assn. of American Medical Colleges work force projections. That’s up more than 50% from previous estimates.
“The Dept. of Health and Human Services estimates that the physician supply will increase by just 7% in the next decade and decrease in specialties such as urology and thoracic surgery. During the same period, one-third of practicing physicians are expected to retire and the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to grow 36%, according to figures released Sept. 30 by the AAMC Center for Workforce Studies.”
But there is some good news too from Medical Health News that “for the second year in a row, the number of medical students choosing to enter family medicine has risen, according to this month’s results of the 2011 National Resident Matching Program. But it may take some time to see the effects. Preliminary figures from this year’s NRMP show that family medicine residency programs filled 2,576 positions of the 2,730 offered, for a record-high fill rate of 94.4 percent.”
There are a number of initiatives that are encouraging young people to consider entering the health field, such as Arkansas Farm Bureau’s M*A*S*H program (2-week summer internships for high school students) and the University of Nebraska’s Kearney Health Opportunities Program (a full scholarship to study pre-medicine at UNK and be guaranteed admission into medical school if they fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate degree).
The Maryland Rural Health Association is working to start at the middle school age to try to interest young people from Maryland to enter the field of medicine. This year’s event will be held in Frostburg, MD on June 4.
According to their recent press release, “HealthSpell is designed to instill an interest and awareness of the health and medical fields through a competitive spelling bee for middle school students. Winners receive scholarships for college education, as well as a guaranteed placement in a health career exploration program. The June event will involve students from Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties in Western Maryland – which have some of the state’s most severe healthcare work force shortages.”
The HealthSpell first place winner will receive $3,000 towards future college tuition, second place $2,000, and third place $1,000. Participants are expected to be able to spell words from word lists (just a starting point for students to start studying from) such as achondroplasia, halitosis, quadrantanopia and therapeutic.
The event is funded through local sponsor support. HealthSpell Sponsors may donate in any amount or may sponsor a specific scholarship that would then carry a person or organization’s name for a winner in the amount of $1,000 to $2,000.
If you have any questions or would like to initiate a HealthSpell event in your area, please contact Michelle Clark, MRHA Executive Director at mrha@allconet.org or 410-302-4650.
Great post! As rural health care becomes a lower priority for the health care industry, how communities and organizations like FB incentivize what they offer will become increasingly important.
By: Tyler M on 03/30/2011
at 3:05 pm