In a recent article in the Journal of American Medical Association, Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, and Victor Fuchs, PhD, argue that excess healthcare costs can be reduced if medical training of physicians is reduced by 30 percent, from 14 to 10 years.
Drs. Emanuel and Fuchs acknowledge there is a large amount of waste in the U.S. healthcare system, which drives up overall costs and threatens the fiscal stability of every other sector. However, they suggest that "years of [medical] training have been added without evidence that they enhance clinical skills or the quality of care. This waste adds to the financial burden of young physicians and increases healthcare costs."
Reducing physician training could create availability to train more physicians while reducing four years of other physicians' financial debt, according to the article. The authors also noted that the most important patient care skills can be obtained in less than two years of clinical training, as Harvard University and other academic medical colleges require less time during clinical rotations.
However, Drs. Emanuel and Fuchs believe less physician training could also lead to reduced physician compensation, although higher physician pay has been justified due to the expensive training.
Drs. Emanuel and Fuchs acknowledge there is a large amount of waste in the U.S. healthcare system, which drives up overall costs and threatens the fiscal stability of every other sector. However, they suggest that "years of [medical] training have been added without evidence that they enhance clinical skills or the quality of care. This waste adds to the financial burden of young physicians and increases healthcare costs."
Reducing physician training could create availability to train more physicians while reducing four years of other physicians' financial debt, according to the article. The authors also noted that the most important patient care skills can be obtained in less than two years of clinical training, as Harvard University and other academic medical colleges require less time during clinical rotations.
However, Drs. Emanuel and Fuchs believe less physician training could also lead to reduced physician compensation, although higher physician pay has been justified due to the expensive training.
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