Healthcare Workforce Faces Critical Shortage of Physicians and Nurses
Becker's Hospital Review
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
The U.S. healthcare system faces a notable supply and demand imbalance, as the population of approximately 340 million significantly exceeds the availability of healthcare providers, with around 840,000 physicians and 5.3 million nurses. The annual influx of new healthcare professionals, about 29,000 doctors and 175,000 to 200,000 nurses, is insufficient to address rising demand, compounded by retirements and reduced working hours within the workforce. Geographic and specialty distribution issues further complicate this shortage, with providers favoring urban areas and higher-income settings, while efforts to expand roles for physician assistants and nurse practitioners have limitations in specialty care. Additionally, alternative business models like concierge medicine are emerging, but they tend to exclude patients unable to pay out of pocket, which raises concerns about health equity.
