By: Cory Ellerd
Submitted: 2010-10-25 13:46:24 | Word Count: 611
A study that was available a short time ago is showing that physicians and physician residents are not making the option to become OBGYN physicians! What could be causing this? The cost of malpractice insurance is very large, due to legal proceedings and the rising cost of premiums. This has also been a part in many OBGYN's leaving their practice, either to leave the medical field altogether or to go practice primary care. One thing that has not decreased, in spite of this, and has in reality grown quite exponentially, is the need for these physicians. A increasing population matched with a declining interest in the field equals a much greater demand; there may even possibly be a shortage on the horizon. The salary range for these OBGYN physicians still practicing, and the entry level range for OBGYN physicians completing residency, is estimated to rise quickly and getting a job in this field should be very easy, as there are many available, vacant positions.
A report released by the American Medical Association in 1995, about five and a half percent of physicians that worked in clinics and hospitals were ObGyns as reported initially by the United States Bureau of Labor. Available positions for OBGYNS could grow as much as 14 percent or more in the next 6 years alone. It will be easier to find employment in rural, small town areas, and also in underserved urban locales. The current salary range for an OBGYN is between $195,000 and $284,000 annually.
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The older America gets, the more doctors we need. The median age for the average American is rising, with the aging of the baby boomer generation, the majority of which has reached retirement, or will in the next decade. Other factors include the shrinking economy and the recently passed health care "reform".
The ACFP, American Academy of Family Physicians, leads us to believe that there is an impending shortage of primary care physicians, which include Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatric and OB/GYN, and that this deficiency could be as large as 40,000 vacant positions. As I mentioned earlier, medical students not choosing this particular specialty is of no help to this issue and only tends to exacerbate the situation.
The US populace is aging. From 2010 and 2035, all age groups 70 and above will increase over 95%. Although for most other specialties this means there will be a greater requirement for all health care services, this will be not as much of the case for that care of pregnancy and birth. Conversely, all other aspects of OB/GYN can expect to see a growth in demand. Further, it is estimated that as many as one-third of today's older practicing physicians will retire by 2020.
The ending part is the conclusion of public health reform. If the reformation actually works in increasing the enrollment into health care insurance programs then when combined with the long term the aging residents and these increased numbers should push need for services and therefore cost higher. However, no one yet knows what will happen to reimbursement rates from Medicare and this new program. The uncertainty is will there be rate a cut of recompense rates for different procedures by Medicare and this new program that may ultimately dwindle the wages of all specialties.
