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Part-Time Practice Trends Intensify Physician Shortage

The imbalance in the supply and demand for physicians will continue to intensify as the U.S. population continues to grow faster than the physician workforce. And added pressure will come with the increasing number of physicians practicing medicine on a part-time basis, as reported the 2007 Retention Survey from the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and Cejka Search, a physician and healthcare executive search organization. Of those responding to the survey, 19% in 2007 report an increase in the percentage of physicians practicing part-time, up from 13% in 2005. The age group with the greatest number of physicians practicing part-time is between 35 and 39. "The trends reported by AMGA members are accompanied by their insights about how they are implementing retention strategies," says Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., AMGA's president and CEO. "They also report clinical models that utilize hospitalists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to continue to improve access and quality care for their patients in a time of shortage," he adds. Joseph Scopelliti, M.D., president of The Guthrie Clinic, also notes that, “It is important to attract and keep physicians by fostering a culture where communication is open, expectations are clear and mentoring is provided.” For organizations that are intent on recruiting and retaining young physicians, enabling these candidates to balance time in practice with other interests and commitments is key. Since 1980, the US population has increased more than 33%, while the number of new doctors graduating from medical school has stayed constant, creating shortages in primary care and other specialties. The changing profile of the typical American medical group will be influenced to a great extent by the retirement of predominantly male, Baby Boomer physicians and the emergence of the Millennial generation workforce, which is equally comprised of male and female physicians.