According to the projections of a report released by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), the United States will be facing a significant shortage of physicians in the next decade. The study shows that the growing number of individuals needing health care is outweighing the amount of new physicians and specialists. The projections estimate the high end of the shortage near one hundred thousand physicians of different types.
This shortage has been much more apparent in certain areas of the healthcare field, causing healthcare facilities to bring on Locum Tenens physicians to remedy it. For Locum Tenens physicians, there has been no shortage of employment opportunities. In fact, the demand for these medical professionals is higher than ever, especially in the following fields.
1. Primary Care
Medical facilities across the nation are experiencing a physician shortage. Nowhere is this more apparent than in primary care. Currently, the population of individuals over the age of 65 is growing at an astounding rate. Thus, these elderly patients, who are more prone to chronic illnesses, are seeking medical care at an equally high level. Furthermore, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, more patients have insurance and are utilizing this new benefit at primary care offices across the country.
2. Emergency Care
In 2015, there were 136.3 million emergency room visits. This figure represents an increase from prior year’s statistics. The increase is due, in part, to the improved insurance coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act.
3. Behavioral Health
There is no doubt that substance abuse has hit epidemic levels in our nation. As the number of individuals suffering with addiction continues to rise, so does the demand for physicians in this field. According to a survey done, about 30% of the 259 facilities surveyed used Locum Tenens for filling a behavioral health post in 2014. This places behavioral health specialists as second on the list as far as demand.
4. Hospitalists
Simply put, Hospitalists care for hospitalized patients. These individuals (who typically specialize in internal medicine) are also in high demand in the medical profession. In fact, 21.9% of the facilities in Staff Care’s survey stated that they had used Locum Tenens for hospitalist positions in the past year.
5. Surgeons
Surgeons are in great demand across the country. Despite the high pay scale associated with this position, there are not enough physicians to keep up with the number of patients who require their specialized skills.
Becoming a Locum Tenens physician is an excellent way to gain experience while also helping to curb the looming physician shortage. In less than a decade, there will be a need for up to 90,000 new physicians, if you are ready to join the lucrative and in-demand field of Locum Tenens, please contact us today at Medstaff National Medical Staffing.