Physician Shortage in America

The physician shortage occurring in the United States is vast, and many people will not realize it is happening until it affects them directly. Primary care physicians make up the majority of this shortage, but other specialties will also be affected. By the year 2025, it is estimated that the United States will be forty-five thousand to ninety-thousand physicians short. There are simply not enough physicians to meet the demand. Causes of the shortage include the Affordable Care Act insuring millions of people, Medicare and Medicaid continually expanding, the growing population, and the baby boomer generation seeking more and more medical care due to their old age. America can combat this impending physician shortage by increasing the amount of residency slots available to medical school graduates and by expanding the freedom of other medical professionals to decrease the burden on primary care physicians