Psychiatrist Shortage Looms
Friday January 13, 2006
A nationwide survey from LocumTenens.com has found that 25% of
psychiatrists responding to a 2005 survey said they would not choose medicine if they could decide their career paths all over again. This represents an increase of 20% since 1997.
They conclude that "trends in the psychiatry workforce are leading to access problems." Other problems found include:
Read the complete survey results.
They conclude that "trends in the psychiatry workforce are leading to access problems." Other problems found include:
- Psychiatrists are seeing more patients each week and spending less time with each.
- In the current managed care climate, a psychiatrist can earn 57 percent more money from three medication management visits than from one outpatient psychotherapy visit with medication evaluation.
- There are fewer practicing psychiatrists
- An aging psychiatry workforce - More than 60 percent of psychiatrists completed their training more than 21 years ago. Only 32 percent of psychiatrists are under 45.
Read the complete survey results.