Report Says Wisconsin Faces Looming Doctor Shortage

Wisconsin has taken a number of steps to head off a doctor shortage, but a new report says more can be done.

According to the report, progress has been made since a future shortage of doctors was initially predicted in a 2011 study—which called for 100 new physicians a year—but not enough to ensure the supply of doctors meets demand.

Worst case scenario, the state could be short 4,000 doctors by 2035, said George Quinn, executive director of the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce.

“What would mitigate that number would be further changes in the way care is delivered; moving more towards a team-based care model where other clinicians are substituted for physicians,” he said.

Quinn said increased use of technology can also help alleviate the projected shortage.

He said medical students who go to school in Wisconsin and then stay to do residency training are more likely to remain in Wisconsin to practice.

To increase the chances of that happening, the state has expanded residency programs for family medicine, psychiatry and general surgery, especially in rural areas. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin have also increased enrollment.