Expanding the Health-care Pipeline through Innovation: The MCW model

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Planning
• Public Health

Background:

• Projected physician shortages in the US (90,000 by 2016) and Wisconsin (2,000 by 2016).
• The Association of American Medical Colleges and Wisconsin Hospital Association identified critical workforce gaps.
• Need for innovative strategies to mitigate impending physician shortages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the Medical College of Wisconsin's multi-pronged approach to address physician shortages.
• To detail initiatives including regional campuses, rural residency programs, and expanded pharmacist roles.
• To discuss the history, progress, principles, and future plans of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of immersive regional medical school campuses in Green Bay and Central Wisconsin.
• Creation of rural-based psychiatry and family medicine residency programs in targeted areas.
• Development of a new School of Pharmacy to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists.

Main Results:

• Initiatives are underway to increase physician supply in underserved regions.
• Partnerships with rural serving health systems are crucial for program success.
• Expansion of healthcare provider roles is being explored to optimize workforce utilization.

Conclusions:

• The Medical College of Wisconsin is proactively implementing strategies to combat physician shortages.
• Regionalization, rural focus, and interprofessional collaboration are key components of the plan.
• These approaches aim to ensure a robust healthcare workforce for Wisconsin and beyond.