SHORTAGE OF MDS?

Enrollment at the nation's medical schools has remained steady over the years, but some health policy experts are worried that a growing and aging population will eventually lead to a physician shortage. In 15 to 20 years, some experts say, the doctor deficit could be as high as 200,000 MDs. In some regions, a dearth of doctors is already a problem. According to Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, a physician recruitment firm, more than half of US hospitals are having a harder time finding doctors, especially in specialties like anesthesiology, radiology, cardiology, and orthopedic surgery. Just under 50% of the hospitals surveyed reported limiting operating room use because of a lack of anesthesiologists.