Survey Reveals Doctor Shortage in New York

Rochester, NY – A new survey of hospitals by the Healthcare Association of New York finds there a shortage of doctors in the state, and the problem is getting worse.

Nancy Adams is Executive Director of the Monroe County Medical Society. She says her group plans to release a similar study next month, and the problems here mirror those found in the rest of the state.

And Adams says the shortage is compounded by the fact that many of those aging physicians plan to retire in the next five to ten years. Administrative burdens and a low reimbursement rate are other contributing factors to the shortage.

Adams says the Rochester area needs to do a better job of recruiting doctors to this region. She also feels there needs to be programs to encourage trainings coming out of the Medical School to stay in Rochester.

Adams adds that the Medical Society's study also found that a third of the primary care physicians in the are are not accepting any new patients.