Some pregnant women in Central New York are having a harder time finding a doctor to deliver their babies. It’s part of the national physician shortage. Here’s a closer look at how the shortage will affect local physicians and patients:
In Oswego County, there’s one place for expectant mothers to see an obstetric specialist. It’s Oswego County OB/GYN.
“Our practice is the only practice in the county doing obstetric gynecology. There’s one gynecologist, but the only people doing obstetrics is our practice– myself and two partners and one nurse midwife.” [Ronald Uva]
This practice—its doctors and patients—are the flesh and blood examples of a problem that is affecting the nation’s health: a growing shortage of doctors. Consider these statistics:
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Nationally, the Department of Health and Human Services says there will be a shortage of at least 55,000 physicians by 2020.
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In New York, the Healthcare Association of New York says 51 percent of hospitals are experiencing a shortage of primary care physicians and 100 percent expect a shortage within the next three years.
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Locally, of the 15 hospitals in Central New York say they need 114 primary care physicians.
Doctors warn that a physician shortage is likely in Central New York. But the causes behind the shortage are controversial.
One possible cause is the cost of medical malpractice insurance. In the state of New York, physicians are paying 14 percent more for medical liability insurance this year than last year. Before July, a physician paid about $50,000 in Central New York for medical liability insurance. After the increase, doctors now pay about $56,000 per physician.
Gerald Hoffman is the executive vice president of Onondaga County Medical Society and explains the background behind concerns over medical malpractice.
“Not only in Central New York, but in New York State in 1975 was the first malpractice crisis — that the major insurers fled the market place and doctors didn’t have this very important insurance to protect them and patients.” [Gerald Hoffman]
Hoffman says another cause for the doctor shortage is the aging of the baby-boomer generation.
“We’re seeing the doctors retiring earlier. Doctors, say in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, these physicians are opting not to deliver babies.” [Gerald Hoffman]
The final reason for a possible crisis here in Central New York is the high cost of living. Hoffman says young doctors need to be convinced that Central New York is a wonderful place to live.
“They receive training here. We want them to continue to live here.” [Gerald Hoffman]
STAND-UP: Physicians, government agencies, and insurance companies are debating the causes behind a physician shortage and discussing some of the possible solutions. Here’s a look at three proposals to solve the problem:
Dan Maffei is the Democratic candidate for Congress from the 25th District. He says that fewer physicians mean fewer people will get quality health care. Maffei’s campaign manager Dan Krupnick says Maffei wants to increase medical research opportunities in Central New York.
“If you take Ithaca, Syracuse, and Rochester, there’s more research opportunities in that triangle than anywhere else in the country.” [Dan Krupnik]
Krupnik says the best way to bring doctors here is to encourage them to come here to do research and teach.
Republican Jim Walsh is the incumbent congressman from the 25th District. Congressman Walsh says the high cost of practicing medicine has led to a real shortage of physicians. The Congressman’s communications director, Brian Baluta, says Walsh supports the current Labor, Health, and Human Services Education Appropriation Bill.
“The Congressman is very dedicated to this bill. There’s funding in it for National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, as well as funding to go to every hospital in Syracuse.” [Brian Baluta]
Upstate Medical University offers another way to address the growing shortage of doctors in the region. Upstate Medical is planning to expand its academic medical center. Darryl Geddes, public and media relations at Upstate Medical University, says the university wants to bring more students here for education and keep them here for careers.
“We’re looking also at increasing our residency programs, because you know people who are residents in communities tend to want to stay in those communities. So if we have more residency openings, brings more people here.” [Darryl Geddes]
In Oswego County, Doctor Uva in Oswego County will keep delivering babies.
“I retired from obstetrics once already, to just do office gynecology and surgery. But my office couldn’t find a replacement so I came back doing obstetrics. I’m going to be 60 in a year. I have grandchildren and aging parents. I want more time off even though I love the practice of obstetrics.” [Doctor Uva]
For Democracywise, I’m Amy Aaronson.
(Amy Aaronson is a junior broadcast journalism student.)
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