Are you facing a shortage of doctors or specialists in your area?

Hi everyone,

How are you today?

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could see an estimated shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034.

This fact, combined with the growth and aging of the population, could lead to deep pitfalls in both primary and specialty care.

What about you? Do you have trouble getting appointments to see a doctor or specialist? How far do you have to travel to see your doctor or specialist? How long do you typically wait for an appointment?

@Mkashifsaleem‍ @Cindia‍ @Michelle1982‍ @suzyq328‍ @Dana53‍ @marlaro‍ @Carrie68‍ @Candi147‍ @Mollyfox2001‍ @jldyer32‍ @MagicSchoolBusDropOut‍ @Country115‍ @Liverthecarebear‍ @shawshiana5‍ @Doug792‍ @Nobull1‍ @BRDdestiney1960‍ @020799‍ 

Feel free to share and discuss here!

Take care,
Courtney

My neurologist came this way monthly out of the twin cities saving a 2 hr drive. Disputes on space and cost at the local hospital cancelled this now. There are not any closer neurologist. It’s Fargo or Twin Cities. Now the Pulmatologist (lung Doctor) from Fergus has left that hospital. Alomere still has one part time. There seems to be a reversal of Doctors coming from large cities to the rural areas. Telemedicine helps some but hard to put hands on. Yes I have BP cuffs and O@ SATURATION THERMOSTAT not everyone does. I even have an EKG device. Still it. doesnt take the place. Its nice but not the total answer

We have a shortage of good doctors here in Northwest Indiana. The few that are "Good" don't take insurance and want you to pay up front and that is just too expensive for me. I am seeing a nurse practitioner right now who works with under a psychiatrist and as much as I give her credit for trying to work with me over the past five years, it is just not the same as actually having someone who a specialist in the field of care. I am trying my best with her, but my progress is very slow, and I have had many regressions while working with her, but there is really no one else in the area I can turn to. I could try to see one in Chicago, about an hour or so away from me, but it is hard to get on the list to see them. And frankly, I am so tired of having to start all over again. It is just a pain. Trust me, I have to over 8 times since they diagnosed me in 2006 in the hospital with bipolar. The mental health field, although they are making some progress, is not making enough. And that is taxing on the patient and slows the process down.

I have heard of some issues here in the St Louis area, however personally I have not experienced it yet, this may be due to the fact that I use the VA medical facilities, and that both the one here in St Louis and before in Tucson AZ, are connected to medical schools, so many times I will see 3rd and 4th year students and those in residency, of course shadowed by the doctor overseeing them. Though I had just recently read an article, that some medical students graduate but do not get matched to a residency, because there just are not enough slots, dues to lack of over seeing doctors, and funding. Yes worse in rural areas and very large cities.

Yes there is a shortage esp when youhave to work on which DRs are own our medical insurance plan. Then it takes 2-3months to get in. Then they take the same bunch odbody exrays. Then you go back a couple of times and then you find out the medcine the DR wants you to try is $2000.00 a month!!! We liv in a large city yet the pickens are few. (Especially if you need tofins a DR who speaks good English. No offense but I need to be able to undertand what the DR. is saying about my health and medicines.)

In our area to be able to get a good specialist you have to leave the area and go 2 hours away to Seattle. Our area we get the doctors that are fresh out of medical school and have to get their rural Health time in before they light out into the real world. So we're kind of the training ground for new doctors. And if you happen to find a good one there poof off to greener pastures because our area being rural classification gets a very poor payback from Medicare and Medicaid. So we can't keep quality up here unfortunately. We have a senior community mostly and this is sad that we can't get quality to stay in our area!