2024 Survey of Locum Tenens Physicians and Advanced Practitioners
THE “SEVEN PS” 1. Population growth : The U.S. population is projected to grow from 332 million people today to 423 million by 2050.* 2. Population aging: By 2034, there will be more seniors 65 and over in the U.S. than children 17 or younger, the first time this has occurred.* Older people visit a physician at three times the rate of younger people.** 3. Provider aging : 30% of physicians in active patient care are 60 or older, creating a looming “retirement cliff” in the physician workforce.*** 4. Provider burnout . Burnout among physicians was labeled a public health crisis by the Harvard H.T. Chan School of Public Health prior to COVID-19. Physician burnout and turnover were further driven by the pandemic. 5. Pervasive ill-health : 6 in 10 U.S. adults have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or lung disease, while 4 in 10 have two or more.** 6. Pipeline problems : Federal funding for physician training was capped in 1997 and has been limited since, restricting the number of new physicians. 7. Practice styles : Many physicians are embracing practice styles such as part-time, employment, non-clinical roles and locum tenens that may reduce overall full-time-equivalents (FTEs).
As a result of these and other factors, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034.
* U.S. Census Bureau ** Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) *** AMA Physician Master File
© AMN Healthcare 2024
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