Health Affairs Study Of Pennsylvania Physiciansspotlights Health Care Problem Areas
Recently, the journal Health Affairs produced a report to review physician supply in Pennsylvania. The journal analyzed a 10-year period of Mcare data from 1993 to 2002 that included more than 47,000 unique doctors out of a total of 64,803 who participated in the state-run fund during that time period.
While the study is not perfect and has flaws, the Pennsylvania Medical Society is always thankful when research is shared so that state problems related to health care can be investigated. Any set of data can be valuable in learning about issues.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society believes, at best, this Health Affairs report highlights problem areas, but can't be used with any degree of certainty why physicians come and then either leave or stay.
The report suggests a high annual loss of specialists. According to the report, "Most specialties saw 10-20 percent of their ranks exit practice in Pennsylvania each year throughout the study period."
As such, this suggests a high turnover rate among Pennsylvania specialists. This high turnover rate simply is not good for patients, especially those with chronic diseases. The disruption of care as a result of the revolving Pennsylvania health care door does not leave these patients in the most desirable situation.
This 10-to-20-percent exit rate corroborates what the Pennsylvania Medical Society was suggesting in the earlier part of this decade through anecdotal evidence. Physicians were leaving Pennsylvania.
Of note, the Health Affairs study included doctors-in-training as part of the study. As such, at a time when it is believed the number of medical residents was increasing, inclusion of medical residents is a flaw of the study, particularly because they are not allowed to practice freely. Also, it should be pointed out that you can't determine practice changes and access to complex medical care by simply reviewing insurance class. Health care access can decrease through practice restrictions that don't require insurance class change.
Many agree that our country is facing a shortage of health care professionals. Trend studies suggest health care demand is growing at a faster rate than the supply of available patient care-based physicians, particularly as the baby boomers age and have greater health care needs.
No doubt, health care is an important issue in a state like Pennsylvania. And, the Pennsylvania Medical Society is appreciative of the efforts of those who are working to preserve the future of patient care in our state. Past efforts to investigate lawsuit abuse within health care settings and how that abuse negatively impacts patient care were important steps taken to address the future of health care. Thus, the Pennsylvania Medical Society is thankful for initiatives taken by our State Supreme Court, state legislature, and recent governors.
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