Sep 26, 2013 No Comments ›› Spit Stixx
Neptune, New Jersey (My9NJ) - New Jersey is experiencing a shortage of doctors. In fact, it’s projected that by 2020 the state will be about 3,000 primary care physicians short of what is needed to give optimal health care.
So why are doctors fleeing the Garden State?
According to Deborah Briggs, the President and CEO of the Council of Teaching Hospitals, New Jersey loses nearly 70% of the doctors it educates to other states. This is well below the national average of a 48% retention rate.
In other words, in 2013 New Jersey only kept about 34% of the doctors who were educated and trained in the state.
The Council of Teaching Hospitals and a nationwide study done by Merritt Hawkins, says New Jersey is just not competitive when it comes to keeping doctors in state.
The top five reasons for physicians leaving are:
Better salary offered outside of New Jersey
Cost of living in New Jersey
Better job/practice opportunities in desired locations outside of New Jersey
Taxes in New Jersey
Affordable Housing
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande gathered doctors, residents, hospital managers, and specialist at Jersey Shore Medical Center to discuss New Jersey’s doctor drain.
The room was filled with 40 or so doctors who also added malpractice insurance issues to the list, explaining that it’s just too expensive to start a practice here.
