> Recently, her hospital’s dermatology program received more than 600 applications for four residency slots.
Perhaps if supply of dermatologists was not so strongly limited, prices and wait times would improve.
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Perhaps if supply of dermatologists was not so strongly limited, prices and wait times would improve.
Every time it comes up in the US, nationalized healthcare is demonized in some media. But it just feels like a facade perpetrated by the hospitals and insurance companies (and now private equity) who stand to lose the most. If it's good enough for veterans and retirees, why can't it be good enough for the rest of us? Maybe it's because when the government pays the bill, they don't just roll over and accept $EXORBITANT_FEE after $EXORBITANT_FEE - they negotiate and get some reasonable value.
From what I gather, Congress set the current low limit due to lobbying from the AMA something like 30 years ago. The AMA has since changed its tune and wants more slots to alleviate shortages in some regions and specialties, but the funding has not materialized.
What would they do if the government didn't fund any slots, just shrug and decide they didn't need doctors?
Note that I'm not opposed to the government funding lots more slots, I am objecting to the presumption that government funding is the only possible way to make a doctor.
There are a small number of residency slots funded by non-profit foundations but those are a drop in the bucket. None of the other major players in the national healthcare system have an incentive to pay for this stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residency_(medicine)#:~:text=B...
Our demographic makeup means we have more elderly in need of care and fewer to care for them, which means we will need to revert our requirements. The UK is already discussing/planning-for this in their healthcare system: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nurses-doctors-deg...
I understand that it's scary that care quality may be lower, but that argument is similar to demanding that every road worker and civil engineer have a PhD. Our bridges and roads would likely be better if all participants were so educated and qualified, at least for the horrifically expensive and few roads/bridges we would be able to build.
I already mostly see NPs for my checkups. If they aren't sure, then I can jump through the hoops to get a Physician.
It works well and I get plenty of time to discuss things during my appointments.
EDIT: I still think my original point may stand for specialists however, we'll have to see how it shakes out and what healthcare systems under more stress than ours decide to do in the near future.
I think there are parallels to nursing as well, with increasing credentialism and then creation of new classes. 30 years ago nurses entered the workforce with a 2 year associates from a junior college. Heck, my highschool had a nursing occupational program.