Countries with strong health care systems have at least half of their physicians in generalist primare care practice 50 percent in Canada, 70 percent in the United Kingdom (Starfield, B, Is primary care essential?
In 2008, less than 8 percent of U. S. seniors chose family medicine, a 50 percent decline since 1997; only 199 U. S, seniors matched into primary care internal medicine, 248 into IM/Peds, and 53 into primary Peds. The percentage of international medical graduates (IMG’s) in our 3 primary care specialties is now 73 percent for IM, 68 percent for Peds, and 55 percent for Fam. Med. (Pugno, P , et al Fam Med 40 (8): 563, 2008) I don’t believe that we have more than about 30 percent of our physicians in primary care. Only 20 percent of internal medicine graduates become general internists, and most pediatric graduates go into sub-specialties. (Bodenheimer, T. Primary care—Will it survive? N Engl J Med 355 (9):861, 2006). Primary care has been declining in this country for many years, as a result of multiple factors, including more attractive lifestyles and reimbursement on the non-primary care fields;student perceptions of the demands, rewards, and prestige of generalist practice; and uncer
Related Questions
- Countries with strong health care systems have at least half of their physicians in generalist primare care practice 50 percent in Canada, 70 percent in the United Kingdom (Starfield, B, Is primary care essential?
- How are physicians, health care systems, consumer organizations, businesses and other groups choosing to participate in this Initiative?
- Can osteopathic physicians practice in other countries? Where?
