Albeit the Adirondacks are an extremely beautiful and bucolic place that attract people from around the world to visit or even stay permanently, the park struggles to attract one group of people in particular: doctors. This has become one of the bigger social problems the park has recently encountered. Around the world there is great demand for doctors and not nearly enough supply. To make matters worse, studies have shown that the fewer the primary care physicians (PCPs) per capita, the worse the quality of healthcare (Reed). The Adirondacks are in desperate need of more primary care physicians and better health care, but what are the roots of this problem and can they be addressed?
According to North Country Public Radio, there are a host of reasons why young medical students are not attracted to a rural lifestyle. A recent article about the shortage explained that “a lack of cultural opportunities, shopping, and food diversity has been cited by doctors who take a pass on the country life” (Reed). Additionally, I imagine that few doctors just out of medical school wish to leave more densely populated areas to take up a rural lifestyle during that time in their lives. Certainly there are more, and more highly regarded, opportunities in cities and suburbs than there are in a place like the Adirondacks.
So how should this problem be addressed? How can more primary care physicians be enticed to make their living in the Adirondacks? At the moment The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) are emphasizing the role of primary care providers in an effort to improve the health care system. Additionally, there are special programs and benefits for primary care providers who agree to go to rural places, which could be enticing to some. More, however, needs to be done to solve this problem. Fortunately, as a nation and a region, we have recognized the problem before us and are brainstorming to find solutions.
This is a great post! I definitely agree that young medical students are not attracted to a rural lifestyle. I feel that young doctors would much rather live in a place where they can live a normal young adult life when they are not working. I also feel that doctors tend to go towards densely populated areas where they can make more of an impact. People become doctors because they want to help out people and living in a highly populated area will allow doctors to achieve that. They probably would also have more resources available to them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, without any medical schools in the area it's just one more move that these doctors are going to have to make in their lives. There is no pay incentive and the quality of life is probably better many other places. In the end, the Adirondacks don't support their business enough. Interesting pattern to notice, however. It highlights an old sort of ruggedness that still exists in the park.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know Huson Headwater Health Network has brought doctors into the Adirondacks since the 1980's. They have expanded throughout the Notheast by storm, bringing healthcare to our small towns.
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