| A recently medical students are reportedly choosing | | | | currently only 2% of medical school graduates choose |
| not to specialize in gynecology due to the high cost of | | | | primary care as a career. The drop in interest in |
| malpractice insurance. Litigation has caused the | | | | primary care is likely a response to the significantly |
| insurance premiums to rise, which has led to many | | | | higher salaries that sub specialists like Radiologists, |
| OBGYN leaving their practice. In the meantime, the | | | | Cardiologists and many others command. |
| number of positions is expected to grow faster than | | | | Aging Population |
| average between now and 2014 due to population | | | | The US population is aging. From 2010 and 2035, all |
| growth. This had led to fewer health care options in | | | | age groups 70 and above will increase over 95%. |
| many states for women. As a result, the average | | | | Although for most other specialties this means there |
| salary for practicing gynecologists is expected to raise | | | | will be a greater demand for all health care services, |
| considerably and the job outlook is expected to be be | | | | this will be less so the case for that care of pregnancy |
| strong. | | | | and birth. However, all other aspects of OB/GYN can |
| The American Medical Association reported in 1995 | | | | expect to see a growth in demand. Further, it is |
| that about 5.5% of people held jobs as obstetricians | | | | estimated that as many as one-third of today's older |
| and gynecologists that worked in hospitals and clinics in | | | | practicing physicians will retire by 2020. |
| the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor | | | | Stock Market Decline |
| Statistics. Employment opportunities for physicians that | | | | The recent stock market decline has impacted older |
| specialize in obstetrics or gynecology are expected to | | | | physicians" decisions. Some physicians are postponing |
| grow by about 14% through 2016. OBGYNs will find | | | | retirement because of the economy's impact on their |
| more job openings in rural or underserved urban areas. | | | | retirement savings. But even a three- to five-year |
| OBGYN's earned an average annual salary of | | | | delay won't address the impending loss of experienced |
| $195,580 to $284,000 in 2008, according to | | | | physicians. |
| As our population ages and the need for health care | | | | Health Insurance Reform |
| grows the current physician shortage in the US is | | | | The final uncertainty is the outcome of national health |
| expected to intensify. Several factors are impacting | | | | reform. If the reform actually works in increasing the |
| this problem, the shrinking economy, the aging | | | | enrollment into health care insurance programs then |
| population and finally the impending health care | | | | when combined with the long term the aging population |
| "reform". | | | | and these increased numbers should push demand for |
| Physician Shortage | | | | services and therefore cost higher. However, no one |
| American Academy of Family Physicians suggests | | | | yet knows what will happen to reimbursement rates |
| there will be a shortage of 40,000 primary care | | | | from Medicare and this new program. The question is |
| doctors (Family Practice jobs, Internal Medicine jobs, | | | | will there be rate a cut of reimbursement rates for |
| Pediatric jobs and OB/GYN) by 2020. Added to this | | | | different procedures by Medicare and this new |
| shortage is the fact that the number of medical | | | | program that may ultimately decrease the income of |
| students choosing primary care as a profession has | | | | all specialties. |
| already dropped by 51.8% since 1997, and that | | | | |