National call to action needed to strengthen primary care pipeline in medical education, argue experts
A primary care physician is hard to find. The thousands needed nationwide are even tougher to discover. A new paper led by a faculty member at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM) points to why—and outlines strategies to boost recruitment, starting in undergraduate medical education.
Experts warn that the medical education pipeline for primary care must be strengthened. According to a paper published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, graduate medical education requirements for ambulatory training do not align with the national demand for primary care physicians. This gap highlights the need for action, starting in undergraduate medical education.
Tovah Tripp, a faculty member at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, led the research in collaboration with the Society of General Internal Medicine and Association of Chiefs and Leaders of General Internal Medicine. The authors argue that under the current system, primary care becomes a less attractive option for aspiring physicians.
To address this, they propose several strategies. These include reducing administrative burdens and student debt, supporting primary care faculty, enriching clinical experiences like clerkships and mentorships, and requiring a minimum number of ambulatory rotations during medical school. They stress that early interventions are crucial, as specialty choices are often made before residency.
While there is no single solution, the authors believe that well-designed strategies can improve the outlook for the primary care workforce.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
