Very few medical residents are going into general medicine and are instead choosing subspecialties, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Only 21.5 of surveyed internal medicine residents reported general internal medicine as their career plan. Conversely, 65.3 percent of categorical residents and 52.5 percent of primary care residents reported a subspecialty career plan.
The country is already beginning to face a shortage of physicians, and will sorely need more primary care and general medicine physicians when roughly 32 million Americans gain insurance coverage for the first time from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The survey was completed by 57,087 residents from 2009 through 2011.
Health Care Reform Going Forward: What's the Impact on Providers?
7 Chicago Area Pediatrician Practices Combine to Avoid Hospital Employment
Only 21.5 of surveyed internal medicine residents reported general internal medicine as their career plan. Conversely, 65.3 percent of categorical residents and 52.5 percent of primary care residents reported a subspecialty career plan.
The country is already beginning to face a shortage of physicians, and will sorely need more primary care and general medicine physicians when roughly 32 million Americans gain insurance coverage for the first time from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The survey was completed by 57,087 residents from 2009 through 2011.
More Articles on Primary Care:
California Lawmaker Pushes to Expand Role of Care ProvidersHealth Care Reform Going Forward: What's the Impact on Providers?
7 Chicago Area Pediatrician Practices Combine to Avoid Hospital Employment