MEDICAL EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE HEARS FROM NATIONAL EXPERTS

Legislators Told GA Could Face Doctor Shortage in the Future

ATLANTA—Georgia House Representative Barry Fleming (R-Augusta), Majority Whip of the House Republican Caucus, continued to express concern about the physician workforce after national experts testified before the House Medical Education Study Committee.

“The first meeting of this study committee substantiated our worst fears that Georgia could face a shortage of practicing physicians if we do not act now to attract more doctors and more medical students to our state,” Fleming said.  “I am encouraged that our medical schools are aware of this pending crisis and that they are already actively taking measures to keep their graduates in state.”

National experts including representatives from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, the Council on Medical Education and the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce warned legislators that Georgia could face a shortage of physicians in the future.  Georgia currently ranks 37th in the nation on physicians per capita.  Expert testimony stressed that the key to changing this trend was to keep medical school graduates in the state to practice medicine.  The most effective means believed to accomplish this goal is the availability of quality resident programs because doctors often establish their practice or join a practice close to the location of their residency.

Legislators also heard from Georgia’s medical schools and Grady Hospital about proactive measures they are taking to attract more medical students and to keep them in Georgia once they have graduated.

“The first step to real change is to recognize the need for change, and I think that we all recognize that we must attract more physicians to our state so that all of our citizens have access to the quality healthcare they deserve,” Fleming continued.  “I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and our medical colleges as we address this problem.”

Fleming was appointed Chair of the committee by House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram).  Other committee members include Representatives Bill Hembree (R-Winston), Barbara Sims (R-Augusta), Quincy Murphy (D-Augusta), Penny Houston (R-Nashville), and Bob Smith(R-Watkinsville).

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