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Report: NY short on primary care physicians

May 20, 2015 12:04 am
Laura Nahmias is reporting at Capital New York primary care physicians are aging out of the workforce resulting in a doctor shortage, according to a report by the Healthcare Association of New York. The association concludes the shortage could imperil the state's plan to expand preventive care. In 2014, hospitals located outside of New York City hired less than 900 physicians, but more than 2,000 retired, according to the report. In addition, an increasing number of medical school students are opting for specialty fields rather than primary care. Nearly 90 percent of the hospitals surveyed by the association said they have had trouble recruiting both primary care providers and specialty physicians because of a lack of available candidates and requirements. In rural areas of upstate New York, geography also hurts recruiting, the hospitals said. Read the full story at Capital New York.