Medical School Growth, Development Increasing Amid Economic Recession

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Public Health;  Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 13 Mar 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The AP/Houston Chronicle on Tuesday examined how the expansion plans of medical schools at several U.S. universities "are rushing ahead despite the severe economic downturn." Existing medical schools are "[r]esponding to warnings of a looming doctor shortage" by raising their enrollment rates while new schools are opening or already under development, the AP/Chronicle reports.

The number of medical schools approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education this year to train physicians is expected to increase by four to 130, while five other schools that have plans to enroll students in the next two years have submitted accreditation applications. James Rohack -- a cardiologist and president-elect of the American Medical Association -- said the reason for the growth is that "Americans are living longer, and there are more of them," adding, "It's clear that the demographics of American society point to the need of having and expanding a well-educated medical work force."

According to the AP/Chronicle, medical care experts one "quarter century ago ... blamed rising health costs on what they said was a surplus of doctors," and those "seeking income would perform unneeded procedures, making medical care more expensive." As a result, medical schools restricted or reduced enrollments. However, recent study of the issue found the potential for "a large shortfall in the number of doctors in coming decades."

A 2006 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges urged medical schools to increase their enrollments by 30% to ease the projected shortfall of physicians nationwide. Last year, AAMC released a new study that found that current demand and physician supply rates could lead to a shortage of 159,000 physicians by 2025, with about 750,000 physicians nationwide.

Potential Problem
Covering the projected expense of $200,000 per year to train prospective physicians during their residencies is a potential problem that could arise with the expansions of medical schools, according to AMA. Rohack said that CMS since 1965 has authorized Medicare to pay for residencies, but the provision was restricted to 98,000 trainee physicians in 1997. Since then, the number of new medical students has increased and hospitals have been covering the additional costs through stopgap measures, the AP/Chronicle reports. Rohack said, "If we can take the cap off, ... then American society will be better served," adding, "Most societies that are successful tend to have healthy populations" (Goodman, AP/Houston Chronicle, 3/10).

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