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The Looming Geriatrician Shortage: Ramifications and Solutions.
Paula E Lester1,2, T S Dharmarajan3,4, Eleanor Weinstein4,5
1NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, USA.
Journal of Aging and Health
|October 5, 2019
Summary
The number of geriatricians is decreasing while the elderly population grows, creating a crisis in elder care. Solutions are needed to recruit and retain geriatric medicine specialists.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- The U.S. population aged 65+ will increase 55% by 2030.
- Geriatrician workforce capacity decreased 17% from 2000 to 2010.
- Geriatricians are essential for managing complex health needs of older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the declining geriatrician workforce.
- To explore factors contributing to the shortage.
- To propose solutions for recruitment and retention.
Main Methods:
- Review of physiologic changes in older adults.
- Analysis of historical trends in geriatric training.
- Discussion of expert geriatric care impact.
- Proposal of strategies for workforce improvement.
Main Results:
- Multiple factors contribute to the shortage of skilled geriatric providers.
- The current training system has historical context for the deficit.
- Expert geriatric care significantly impacts patient outcomes and health systems.
Conclusions:
- A critical shortage of geriatricians poses a significant risk to elder care.
- Addressing the decline requires understanding historical training issues.
- Implementing effective recruitment and retention strategies is crucial for geriatric medicine.
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