Transforming the Size and Composition of the Physician Work Force to Meet the Demands of Health Care Reform

Abstract

Despite the controversies surrounding almost every aspect of health care reform in the United States, analysts are virtually unanimous in complaining that our residency programs are turning out too few generalists, too many specialists, and too many doctors altogether. To correct these imbalances, one school of thought would rely on market forces and another would impose a regulatory apparatus. Those who support a market approach do not believe that regulators can make predictions about the future need for physicians that are sufficiently accurate to ensure a proper mix and number of physicians. In fact, they think the market is operating . . .