Healthcare executives and physicians should start preparing now for the impending physician shortage over the next decade.
The estimate varies, ranging from a physician deficit of 47,000 to 122,000 by 2032. Roughly, this could translate into a 1000-2000 physician deficit in any given state, and probably will be worse in rural and underserved areas within any given state.
High-tech companies may also want to keep this impending shortage in mind too.
New apps, big data, and artificial intelligence are only going to get you so far, and when the AI-derived antibiotic prescription doesn’t work for your presumptive diagnosis of bronchitis (which, by the way, usually shouldn’t be treated with antibiotics), then those patients (who you will be referring to as unsatisfied “customers”) will need a real, living breathing physician to sort things out.
And guess what? They may not be there!
Anyway, winter is coming. Time to bundle up.