The Medical Education Commission report at the turn of then new millennium 2000

The State of Louisiana Medical Education Commission was formed by Act 3 of the 1997 Louisiana Legislature. The members are appointed by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Tulane University Medical Center, and Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation and report to and advise the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). This summation from the Medical Education Committee is designed to answer three questions. First, how does the State of Louisiana compare nationally in the renewal of physician supply and capability? Second, what are the current status and trends of graduate medical education in Louisiana? Third, what recommendations are proposed to continue and improve the important relationship between the State public hospitals and educational programs? The State of Louisiana has participated proportionately relative to population in the growth and progress of medical education in this last century and compares favorably with other states and the nation. Louisiana exceeds national averages in the increase of primary care residency programs and positions and in the retention of trainees in practice sites in the State. The three-year trends in total number of graduate medical education filled positions has been consistent with only 0.4% change, with primary care showing an overall increase of 9%, reflecting increases in Family Medicine (56%) and Medicine/Pediatrics (41%).