Obamacare Got Some Promising News From The Medical Community Today

[sheshe2]

On Friday, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) announced that a record number of students applied to American medical schools in 2013 and that a record number of first-year students has enrolled in medical schools this year. Experts say that’s an encouraging sign in the face of a primary care doctor shortage that will likely be exacerbated by an influx of newly insured Americans seeking medical treatment as the Affordable Care Act goes into effect.

“At a time when the nation faces a shortage of more than 90,000 doctors by the end of the decade and millions are gaining access to health insurance, we are very glad that more students than ever want to become physicians,” said AAMC president Dr. Darrell G. Kirch in a press release.


A total of 48,014 students applied to medical schools in 2013, surpassing the previous record that was set in 1996. The number of students enrolled as first-year students also rose above 20,000 for the first time ever. AAMC officials lauded the results, while warning they would do little good unless those students can also get into residency programs upon graduation. Medical residency programs are so over-crowded that over 1,000 medical students were not paired with one after graduating this year — and fixing that shortfall requires Congressional action.

“Unless Congress lifts the 16-year-old cap on federal support for residency training, we will still face a shortfall of physicians across dozens of specialties,” wrote Kirch. “Students are doing their part by applying to medical school in record numbers. Medical schools are doing their part by expanding enrollment. Now Congress needs to do its part and act without delay to expand residency training to ensure that everyone who needs a doctor has access to one.”

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http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/25/2837571/obamacare-promising-news-medical-community-today/

Link Found @

http://theobamadiary.com/

[safeinOhio]

1. We have lots of unemployed IT workers, but

we make it cheaper to bring in techs from abroad. We have a terrible shortage of GPs and if we were to allow residency to count from other countries, we could fill that shortage in a few months. Makes no sense to me.

[AAO]

2. As a potenially unempoyed IT person (aren't we all) at 59, I'm probably unemployable.

[jtuck004]

3. Because Dr's stick together. IT people just fuck each other over. Sometimes for a dollar.

Sometimes just for fun.

[kestrel91316]

4. Now just watch this Congress REFUSE to act to expand medical residency training.

I guarantee you the repukes will obstruct this.

[sheshe2]

6. That's why we need to GOTV 2014!

Let's vote them out, kestrel.

[Thinkingabout]

5. Just today I listened to a RW idiot saying because of Obamacare less students are entering

Medical school and here you are with the facts. Bad thing is those who believe this crap does not read your post. He also said because of Obamacare and Obama policies which caused the NSA have surveillance on Merkel. When they start they don't stop.

[sheshe2]

7. Sad that they never talk with the facts, Thinkingabout.

Spin is so much more fun for them. They want their listeners and viewers, deaf, dumb and blind.

[Kath1]

9. Right.

They don't deal with facts. They live with the preaching to the same old cranky choir - Faux News, hate radio and really wacky RW internet sites. Same old BS. Limbaugh said he wants this President to fail back in '08. They have not changed at all.

[sheshe2]

10. The same old cranky choir...

now that is a perfect description, Kath!

GOTV 2014!

[DallasNE]

8. Leave It To Congress To Create Artificial Shortages

That assures high prices for medical treatment. Way to go Republicans -- protect that 1% and screw the 99%. We knew you could do it.

[mountain grammy]

11. thanks for the facts for the next bagger who whines at me....

wah, wah, wah, nobody wants to be a doctor cause of Obamacarrre and no freedom and all my liberties are gone... wah. My husband is laughing.

[sheshe2]

12. They need to find a new tune, mountain grammy.

The whine just hurts my ears.

Maybe after 2014 the can start with Cry me a River or Crazy or maybe I'm a Loser. Not to disparage those beautiful songs~ yet the titles sure fit.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

13. Good news

[IronLionZion]

14. I think they deliberately cap residencies for some specialties

because they want more docs at the general/family level, or at least to provide service there first before specializing to get the bigger paychecks.

Private equity of all people are finally doing something useful by funding more urgent care centers and walk in clinics. Its an efficient way to handle more patients who need checkups and basic nonemergency treatments. One doctor can oversee a few assistants and nurses and handle lots more patients than a normal practice can.

Before the ACA there was alarmist articles saying that walk in clinics were putting family doctors out of business. Thanks to the ACA, there is plenty of business for all types of doctors.