Training More Internal Medicine Residents May Not Solve Doc Shortage

Most Internists Don't Plan To Stay in Primary Care by Genevra Pittman.  Reuters.  December 4, 2012.

A survey by the Mayo Clinic  of 17,000 internal medicine residents found that only 22 percent said that they were planning to become general internal medicine physicians.  As a result the article suggests that the strategy of training more internal medicine residents in order to address the general practice physician shortage may be flawed.  An alternative may be to pay current physicians in underserved areas more to work longer and see more patients.  The need to revitalize and reform internal medicine and primary care as viable career options is crucial.

Mercer, Memorial Hospital Groom Physicians to Stay in Region

Memorial, Mercer Groom Physicians to Stay in Region by Jan Skutch.  Savannahnow.  November 19, 2012.

This article delineates the relationship between the Mercer University School of Medicine and Savannah's Memorial University Medical Center.  The fundamental philosophy underlying this relationship is the hope that physicians trained at Memorial will use their skills in the area.  The goal of the Mercer/Memorial relationship is that at least 50 percent of residents will remain in Georgia.  With 120 students at Memorial-Mercer, plans are being executed for a new education building.

Atlas of Health Care Charts Performance

Quality of Care Varies by Area by Jayne O'Donnell.  USA Today.  October 31, 2012.

The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care can be found here.  

While this document is designed to help medical students find appropriate and attractive residencies, the article points out that it can also be used to help consumers determine how their local hospital differs from the norm.  Using 2010 Medicare data, the report documents variations of treatment of patients at the end of life, as well as surgical procedures,  and patient experiences.