In the News

Nurses Lead Innovations in Geriatrics and Gerontology- According to rwjf.org, on July 11, 2014, nurse-led initiatives are intended to help the nation’s health care system prepare for a crush of elderly people with multiple chronic conditions.TO READ MORE click here Bottlenecks in Training Doctors - According to nytimes.com, on July 19, 2014, experts disagree over how bad the current shortages are. But virtually all agree that the problem is acute in rural areas and in poor urban neighborhoods. As of June 19, according to one estimate cited by analysts in the Department of Health and Human Services, there was a shortage of 16,000 primary care physicians in such underserved areas.TO READ MORE* click here Nurses Shift, Aiming for More Time with Patients - According to the Wall Street Journal, on July 21, 2014, hospitals hope extra face time and personal attention will help make recovery easier. TO READ MORE click here

In the News

More Newly Licensed Nurse Practitioners Choosing to Work in Primary Care, Federal Study Finds - According to rwjf.org, on June 10, 2014, for more than a decade, the percentage of newly licensed nurse practitioners who chose to work in primary care was on the decline. But that trend is changing, according to a survey released last month by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA. TO READ MORE click here Schumer: Plan Will Help Recruit More Rural Doctors - According to Olean Times Herald on June 5, 2014, Legislation that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., says will address a growing shortage of primary care doctors in Upstate New York is being called a big step in the right direction. The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act will increase the number of Medicare-supported physician training slots by 15,000 nationwide over the next few years, placing emphasis on giving those slots to hospitals that serve rural areas suffering from doctor shortages.TO READ MOREclick here GHS to Require B.S. Degrees for Nurses - According to GreenvilleOnline.com on June 28, 2014, Greenville Health System will begin requiring Bachelor of Science degrees for some of its nurses beginning next month because health care delivery is getting more complex. Research shows that having more nurses with bachelor’s degrees leads to better patient outcomes, officials said, noting that the Institute of Medicine recommends that 80 percent of nurses should have a bachelor’s degree by 2020. TO READ MORE click here

In the News

In the News

Addressing the Nation’s Physician Workforce Needs: The Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Recommendations on Graduate Medical Education Reform - According to the Journal of General Internal Medicine, in April 2014, recommendations are given on how to reform the Graduate Medical Education (GME) system to support the development of a physician workforce that aligns with the unique needs of America’s healthcare delivery system.TO READ MORE click here Sharp Increases in the Clinician Pipeline: Opportunity and Danger - According to Health Affairs Blog, on June 9, 2014, Ed Salsberg of the George Washington University, in his latest Health Affairs blog, points out that the recent rapid increase in the pipeline for clinicians in 4 professions (NPs, PAs, pharmacists and RNs) is likely to help meet short term needs but continued growth could lead to an overshoot and surpluses in the longer term which also have serious negative consequences.TO READ MORE click here

In the News

The 2014 GME Residency Match Results: Is There Really a “GME Squeeze”? - A recent blog by Ed Salsberg, past director of the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, takes a look at the question of a GME ‘squeeze’ from a national perspective.TO READ MORE click here Graham Center Projects Increase in Physicians Working in Shortage Areas - According to aafp.org, on Apr 23, 2014, AAFP's Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care recently published a policy brief that looked at the projected impact of the Primary Care Residency Expansion program on the number and distribution of new primary care physicians. One major take-away from the study was that family medicine residency programs represented the highest return on investment in terms of turning out primary care physicians who would likely work in health professional shortage areas or rural areas. TO READ MORE click here

In the News

Despite sluggish hospital hiring, healthcare reports job growth - According to Modern Healthcare, on May 2, healthcare continued to add jobs last month, but the industry's employment growth occurred largely outside of hospitals, which until recently were a steady source of payroll gains. TO READ MORE click here Nursing Job Outlook Sunny as Experts Project Need for More Than One Million New Nurses by 2022 - According to RWJF.org, on May 19, more than half a million positions for registered nurses (RNs) are projected to open up between 2012 and 2022, according to data released in January by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). TO READ MORE click here State Variability in Supply of Office-based Primary Care Providers: United States 2012 - According to NCHS Data Brief, May 2014, this report presents state estimates of the supply of primary care physicians per capita, as well as the availability of physician assistants or nurse practitioners in primary care physicians’ practices. Estimates are based on data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), Electronic Health Records (EHR) Survey, a nationally representative survey of office-based physicians. TO READ MORE click here

In the News

Expanding Nursing Assistant Responsibilities Could Save $400M - According to FierceHealthcare, on April 14, public hospitals could save almost $430 million a year by expanding responsibilities for nursing assistants, allied health assistants and registered nurses, according to a new report.TO READ MORE click here Experienced Nurses Shorten Length of Stay, Improve Patient Outcomes - According to FierceHealthcare, on April 15, more experienced nurses deliver better patient care and shorten length of stay, according to a study published in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. TO READ MORE click here Look Beyond Nurse-Patient Ratios - According to HealthLeaders Media, on April 16, nurses who advocate for patient safety often cite nurse staffing ratios as a top concern. Evidence suggests more education for nurses, not a mandated, one-size-fits-all approach to staffing, is a better way forward. TO READ MORE click here

In the News

Pharmacists Increasingly Take on Clinical Roles - According to kaiserhealthnews.org, on February 11, once limited to filling and dispensing drugs, pharmacists are increasingly providing direct care to patients. Across the country, they are working with doctors to give immunizations and help patients safely manage medications. In some places, they can even write prescriptions after a physician's diagnosis.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

Apprehensive, Many Doctors Shift to Jobs with Salaries - According to the New York Times, on February 13, American physicians are worried about changes in the health care market and are streaming to salaried jobs with hospitals.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News

More Residents Choose Family Medicine, but Gaps Remain in Primary Care Workforce - According to AMA Wire, on January 15, despite a higher number of family medicine residency positions and more medical school graduates choosing family medicine careers in 2013, recent boosts still will fall short of increasing the primary care workforce. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE The Four Pillars for Primary Care Physician Workforce Reform: A Blue Print for Future Activity - According to annfammed.org, in January 2014, the Council of Academic Family Medicine (CAFM), representing the family medicine academic organizations, has adopted the “Four Pillars for Primary Care Physician Workforce” as a succinct model to identify necessary conditions to ensure the needed growth in the number of primary care physicians. TO READ MORECLICK HERE Experienced Nurses Are Less Expensive Than You Think - According to HealthLeaders Media, on January 8, health care leaders now have data to back up what many already know: more clinical nursing experience means better pediatric patient outcomes.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News

The Future of Jobs in Health Care - According to U.S. News & World Report, on November 26, experts discussed the rewards of a medical career, trends in health care employment, why the health field is changing, how it will change and which jobs have the greatest potential for growth. ***TO READ MORE*** CLICK HERE Demand for Heath Care Training Continues to Grow - According to Community College Daily, on December 2, as health care providers, patients and employers adjust to health care law changes, community colleges are gearing up to keep pace with rising economic and societal demands for medical and allied health professionals. ***TO READ MORE*CLICK HERE The 7 Hottest Jobs of the Health Care Boom - According to SFGate.com on October 29, some of the hottest jobs in healthcare right now have been around for years but are now seeing increased demand, while others are more recently created.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News

The 7 Hottest Jobs of the Health Care Boom - According to SFGate.com on October 29, some of the hottest jobs in healthcare right now have been around for years but are now seeing increased demand, while others are more recently created.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

2013 State Physician Workforce Data Book Now Available - According to aamc.org on November 4, The 2013 State Physician Workforce Data Book includes data by state for physician supply undergraduate and graduate medical education, and in-state retention rates, as well as interactive summaries for each state.TO READ MORE*CLICK HERE

S.C. needs more doctors in rural parts of the state - TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News

Rural hospitals in South Carolina struggle to transition during difficult financial times, shifting health care landscape - According to Post and Courier on October 24, as populations in rural South Carolina decline and hospital admissions drop everywhere, rural hospitals find themselves facing a financial crisis.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Staffing the Hospital of Tomorrow - According to the U.S. News & World Report on October 16, industry challenges are changing the way hospitals hire staff. Hospitals are overwhelmingly seeking primary care providers. Also, demand is increasing rapidly for nurse practitioners and physicians assistants.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Urgent Care Clinics Expect Growth - According to MedCity News on September 27, urgent care centers are expected to increase and fill the patient needs gap as primary care doctor shortage grows.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News

In the News

Are 3-Year Medical Degrees Good Enough for Future Docs? - According to Fierce Healthcare, on September 17, more medical schools are turning to a three-year solution, offering future primary care doctors an accelerated program and major savings. But not all health educators favor the fast-track approach and urge caution when redesigning medical education. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Educators Call for Abbreviated Medical School Curriculum to Reduce Student Debt, Strengthen Workforce - According to MedicalDaily.com, on September 20, medical students and universities could benefit from reducing the traditional four-year curriculum to three years according to educators at the New York University School of Medicine. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Paying Doctors for Better Care Improves Quality - According to Reuters, on September 11, paying bonuses to doctors who work in small practices for the quality of care they provide leads to a modest increase in the number of patients who get the recommended treatment for their conditions, according to a new study. TO READ MORECLICK HERE

In the News- September 19, 2013

In the News

More Medical School Students Opting for Family Medicine Careers, Data Show - According to American Academy of Family Physicians, on September 4, the percentage of medical school graduates choosing family medicine residencies has jumped by nearly 10 percent during the past five years.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

SC Hospitals Gobble up Doctor Practices in Evolving Healthcare Environment - According to thestate.com, on September 3, hospitals are acquiring more physician practices as they prepare to move away from a fee-for-service reimbursement system that pays for services and treatments to one that focuses more on quality outcomes and containing costs. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE




How a Shortage of Doctors Here Can Hurt Health Care in the Developing World - According to Minnesota Public Radio News, The Daily Circuit, on August 30, foreign-trained physicians could help fill the growing shortage of doctors in the United States, but it can also cripple the health-care capabilities of poor countries. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News- Sept. 11

In the News

Community Health Workers- A Local Solution to a Global Problem - According to the New England journal of Medicine, on September 5, ideally, patient care will take place not just in episodic encounters but also through continuous, community-based partnerships that include new entities and workers. Elsewhere in the world, such care has involved the use of community health workers (CHWs) — lay community members with focused health care training. We believe that scaling up the community health workforce in the United States could improve health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and create jobs.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Program Seeks to Help Retired Docs Enter Primary Care - According to utsandiego.com, on September 3, a successful career in medicine is neither regularly scheduled nor part time, but a local surgeon hopes to deliver both to retired doctors who want to continue seeing patients a few days a week with none of the usual financial frustrations and time commitments attached.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE ‘Double Whammy’: Nursing Shortage Starts in the Classroom - According to nbcnews.com, on August 31, nurses may be the answer to some of the key health care and employment problems the US is struggling with right now. But just as the country needs nurses the most, a shortage of professors is curbing the capacity of nursing schools to crank out graduates with advanced degrees.TO READ MORECLICK HERE

In the News August 26, 2013

In the News

NPs, PAs Trending Away from Primary Care - According to medpagetoday.com, on August 16, a new study in American Family Physician finds an increase in sub-specialization among nurse practitioners and physician assistants. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Hunting Season for Healthcare Worker - According to healthleadersmedia.com, on August 19, health care professionals are feeling more confident about their job prospects, making hiring more difficult for employers. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Path to United States Practice Is Long Slog to Foreign Doctors - According to The New York Times, on August 12, thousands of foreign-trained immigrant physicians are living in the United States with lifesaving skills that are going unused because they stumbled over one of the many hurdles in the path toward becoming a licensed doctor here. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News

Health Sector Job Growth Flat for First Time in Decade- According to a recent report published by the Center for Sustainable Health Spending at the Altarum Institute, the national health sector added only 2,500 jobs in July 2013 - the lowest monthly gain in a decade. 2013 is showing slower healthcare job growth than 2012, and hospital employment has been flat. However, ambulatory care saw job gains in 2013. See the full report at: CLICK HERE A Summer in the Country can Inspire Physicians to Practice in Rural Areas, Study Finds - According to MedicalXpress.com, on August 6, a study by the University of Missouri School of Medicine showed that medical school graduates in the Summer Community Program not only entered family practice residency training at higher rates, but nearly half began their medical careers in rural locations.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE A Meandering Path to Medical School in SC - According to TheState.com, on August 10, along with grades, service histories and MCATs, South Carolina medical schools are now looking at life experience when they consider which applicants to choose.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

In the News August 8-15, 2013

In the News

Doctors Brief Congress on Role of Primary Care - According to aamc.org, on July 20, 2013, primary care providers promote care coordination, strengthen care for patients in community-based settings, and advance health care for veterans and special populations, according to a panel of primary care physicians that addressed congressional staffers at a recent briefing sponsored by the Partnership for Primary Care Workforce. The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) is a member of the coalition, which seeks to raise awareness about the vital importance of a robust primary care infrastructure.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Health Professions Network Spring Conference Examines Status of Healthcare Workforce Preparation Programs - According to hwic.org, on March 21, 2013, the healthcare industry is changing rapidly, and no slowdown is in sight. The reason for the changes are many, from healthcare reform to new technology, but all impact how care is delivered and ultimately, how we must prepare the health workforce. Many different organizations are working to address the needs for workforce development, but the Board of Health Professions Network (HPN) believes that to effectively create new models, widespread collaboration is needed. Together, we can find solutions and shape a unified future direction while decreasing duplication of effort.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE In health care industry, who will keep workers safe? - According to usatoday.com, on August 3, 2013, health care workers suffer more injuries and illnesses on the job than those in any other industry, thanks in large part to limited federal safety standards and inspections of health care facilities, says a new report by a national advocacy non-profit. Health care workers face a wide range of hazards on the job, including needle sticks, back injuries from lifting patients and moving equipment, latex allergies and violence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

News for August 1, 2013

In the News

Geographic Distribution of Primary Care Physicians Affects Health Care, Says Policy Brief - According to aafp.org, on June 20, 2013, although the United States suffers from a well-known shortage of primary care physicians, an even greater challenge facing U.S. health care is the uneven geographic distribution of primary care physicians. These distribution problems underscore the need for policies to increase both the overall number of primary care physicians and to encourage a more equal distribution of physicians. Since the United States does not actively regulate the physician workforce, the result is incongruency between the geographic location and specialty choice of the health workforce and enduring health care needs of the U.S. population.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE Primary Care Shortfall Could Be Worse Than Predicted- According to amednews.com, on July 17, 2013, the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that by 2025 there will be a shortfall of 65,800 primary care doctors to serve the country’s health care needs. Behind the low share of trainees entering primary care lies great variation among residency programs. Further research should be done to determine the factors associated with the training sites that produce higher shares of primary care doctorsTO READ MORE CLICK HERE Temporary Nurses Are a Stopgap Solution - According to HealthLeadersMedia.com, on July 8, 2013, reported that with dozens of staffing contracts and hundreds of vacant nursing positions, Scott & White Healthcare in Texas faced a business expansion that outpaced its staffing resources. Here's how the HR department recovered.TO READ MORECLICK HERE

In the News

Nurse Practitioners Slowly Gain Autonomy - According to The Pew Charitable Trusts on July 19, 2013 some states are trying to fill the primary care physician shortage with nurses who have advanced degrees in family medicine. Advocates for patients, hospitals and insurers agree that allowing nurse practitioners (NPs) to fill in for doctors makes sense when it comes to basic services. But physician groups vigorously oppose the changes, arguing that nurses lack the training to safely diagnose, treat, refer to specialists, admit to hospitals and prescribe medications for patients, without a doctor’s oversight.But for the nursing profession, the gold standard is full independence. That is the only way, advocates argue, that NPs will be able to make a dent in patients’ access to care. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE




Is GME Snubbing Rural America - According to Media Health Leaders on June 19, 2013-The U.S. Census for 2010 says that one in five people —19.3% of the population, about 59.4 million people—live in rural America. Unfortunately, a new report this month from George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services says that only 4.8% of new physicians plan to establish a practice in rural areas, despite the critical need. It's a topic that's been predicted and discussed for decades. We know what the problem is but we can't fix it.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE



Shortage of primary care doctors forces groups to adapt - According to News telegram.com on July 25, 2013-Since the state passed a health reform law in 2006 mandating health insurance coverage, demand for internal medicine and family practice physicians to manage office-based patient care has soared. Not only has the Reliant medical group hired seven more advanced-practice clinicians, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who provide primary care under a physician's supervision, but it also employs nurses and medical assistants in innovative ways. Medical assistants work with Reliant's database to contact high-risk patients with chronic diseases, including depression, who may be overdue for an appointment or need a check-in on medication.TO READ MORE. CLICK HERE

In the News

Study Predicts 5.6 Million New Health Care Jobs by 2020, with Demand Highest for Nurses - According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on June 27,2013 the United States health care workforce will have to expand by almost 30 percent between 2010 and 2020 to meet growing demand for care. Nursing will grow the fastest among healthcare occupations. The estimated 5.6 million health care job vacancies created over the next ten years is expected to be the most dramatic growth in any job sector in the country during that time period.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE




How Can We Expand the Primary Care Workforce? - According to the Robert Wood Johnson Founduation on January 1, 2012 - Primary care is vital to disease prevention yet the United States has a deficit of nearly 40,000 primary care physicians. Because of this shortage, many people have little access to primary care and increasingly are turning to hospital emergency rooms for care—or going without. How Can We Expand the Primary Care Workforce?TO READ MORE CLICK HERE



Doctors working in fast-food restaurants - According to CNN Health on July 4, 2013 in Southern California alone, there are an estimated 3,000 medically trained Latino immigrant doctors who aren't practicing medicine. Instead of treating patients many doctors spend years cleaning houses or working on construction sites and in fast-food chain restaurants. Latino immigrant doctors have a harder time transitioning into the U.S. health system. The IMG program has helped 66 Latino immigrant doctors pass the board exams and get placed into residency programs.TO READ MORE CLICK HERE