Inadequate intensive care physician supply in France: a point-prevalence prospective study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Workforce Planning
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital role of intensive care units (ICUs) in healthcare systems.
• Aging populations and complex care needs exacerbate pre-existing concerns about ICU capacity and physician availability.
• A prior evaluation in 2012 highlighted these issues, necessitating a current assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current and projected shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) physicians in France.
• To update findings from a 2012 assessment on ICU physician supply and demand.
• To identify factors contributing to physician vacancies and their impact on ICU functionality.

Main Methods:

• A national electronic survey was administered to French ICUs in January 2022.
• Data collected included ICU characteristics, medical staffing levels, physician demographics, and training capacities.
• A response rate of 83% was achieved, covering 4943 ICU beds across 242 facilities.

Main Results:

• A total of 300 full-time equivalent (FTE) ICU physician vacancies were identified nationwide.
• Nearly two-thirds of responding ICUs reported physician vacancies, with 35% utilizing traveling physicians.
• Non-university affiliated public hospitals were most affected; 27% of ICUs faced critical dysfunction or closure risk due to vacancies and retirements.

Conclusions:

• The deficit in ICU physician supply has worsened since 2012, leading to increased vacancies.
• Urgent measures are needed to address the critical shortage of ICU physicians in France.
• Increasing the number of critical care medicine residents trained annually is proposed as a key solution to mitigate future ICU closures and patient risks.