GIs continue to grapple with growing patient demand, despite shrinking physician shortage
A 2016 report from the Health Resources and Services Administration National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projected a shortage of 1,630 full-time physicians by 2025 in the field of gastroenterology.
However, that is not where the shortage ends. According to Karmen Blackwell, a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) spokesperson, “In 2037, there will be a projected shortage of 1,390 full-time equivalent gastroenterologists.”
“In total, shortages are projected for 31 out of 35 medical specialties, including gastroenterology. HRSA projects an overall shortage of 187,130 full-time equivalent physicians in 2037,” she told Healio Gastroenterology. “Several physician specialties are projected to have a larger shortage than gastroenterologists.”
These projections corroborate those released by the Association of American Colleges (AAMC) in March 2024, which reported a total physician shortage of between 13,500 and 86,000 physicians by 2036. This is lower than AAMC projections in 2021, which predicted an overall shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034.
However, this minor improvement in physician workforce numbers is unlikely to offset the surging demand for gastrointestinal services, driven in part by an aging patient population and the recent change in colorectal cancer screening age from 50 years to 45 years.
Compounding soaring patient demand, too many gastroenterologists are leaving practice and not enough are coming in to take their place. With nearly half of the current GI workforce aged 55 years or older, a sizeable proportion of gastroenterologists are set to retire within the next 15 years; yet GI fellowships have struggled for years to adequately fill their vacancies with the medical trainees needed to replenish the workforce.
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to exacerbate an already precarious gastroenterology shortage, exposing GI providers to longer work hours, greater administrative demands and constant exposure to workplace abuse and harassment. These pressures created a perfect storm for physician burnout, which has led many providers to quit the field and worsened working conditions for the remaining pool of GI providers.
In this month’s Healio Gastroenterology Exclusive, three gastroenterologists provided perspectives on the impact of workforce shortage within the field and at their own institutions and offer potential solutions that will require teamwork and a multifaceted approach, with immediate implementation.
In an editorial, Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, noted that finding the right solution to the workforce shortage issue will not be an easy task but is needed in order to recruit and retain GI providers.
Healio Gastroenterology thanks Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACP, AGAF, FACG, Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG, FASGE, FAPCR, and Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG, for their insights on this growing and worrisome issue in health care.
Read more on each of their perspectives below:
- Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACP, AGAF, FACG
- Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG, FASGE, FAPCR
- Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG
- References:
- GI physician shortage ‘a significant concern’ affecting both providers, patients. https://www.healio.com/news/gastroenterology/20221215/gi-physician-shortage-a-significant-concern-affecting-both-providers-patients. Published Dec. 28, 2022. Accessed Nov. 26, 2024.
- Health workforce projections. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/internal-medicine-subspecialty-report.pdf. Accessed Nov. 26, 2024.
- Physician supply and demand — A 15-year outlook: Key findings. https://www.aamc.org/media/54686/download. Accessed Nov. 26, 2024.
- The complexities of physician supply and demand: Projections from 2021 to 2036. https://www.aamc.org/media/75236/download. Published March 2024. Accessed Nov. 26, 2024.