KenC, you better hurry up and get into Med School....

[z31maniac]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68T67120100930

[reelop19]

Although the doctor shortage is obvious to most of us, I'm sure that dude you're referring to will have something to say to refute that article and he'll be wrong as usual. We can also add that doctors will make less and we'll probably have less specialists.

[BraveUlysses]

Although the doctor shortage is obvious to most of us, I'm sure that dude you're referring to will have something to say to refute that article and he'll be wrong as usual. We can also add that doctors will make less and we'll probably have less specialists.

The shortage is obvious, and has been obvious for a long time. The real question is: why is there a doctor shortage? And how can it be solved?

[Joey Link]

It's the same reason there's a shortage of lawyers; an artificial government-mandated quota.

[KenC]

At least right now in urban and suburban areas, there isn't a shortage of specialists. There is, however, a shortage of GPs in all parts of the country. There are various factors that contribute to ones choice of specialty; workload, interest, compensation, etc.

The price of medical school and the loan structure drives people to specialize as well. At any given school, the price is the same for total education per student (~$250,000 right now). No matter which specialty you choose, the loans must be paid back in full in 10 years. Whether those payments amount to 1/3 of your check or 1/8 greatly depends on your specialty choice.

In rural areas the shortage is real for everything. You make less money, and nobody wants to live in Pocatello, ID.