Anne Arundel could see a significant shortage of physicians due to an increasing population and low pay for doctors, despite the Baltimore area?s attractiveness for new medical workers.
“Even though Anne Arundel in one of the best of the five regions, it doesn?t suggest there will be any problems,” said Nancy Fielder, spokeswoman for the Maryland Hospital Association.
Western Anne Arundel, particularly the Odenton, Hanover and Linthicum areas, are short more than 160 physicians, most in specialty areas.
By 2030, the county?s seniors will account for 20 percent of the population, and 20,000 new jobs and 11,000 new families will be moving to the county via the Base Realignment and Closure influx at Fort Meade.
If the shortage isn?t stemmed now, the implications could be dire for west county residents, resulting in longer wait times and greater distances between patients and their doctors.
“I don?t think it?s a crisis now, but when we talk about 20,000 new jobs coming into the county, then it?s going to be a crisis,” said Del. Pam Beidle, D-Anne Arundel, who was on the county?s 2006 BRAC committee that dealt with the health care issue.
The MHA issued a report earlier this month detailing critical shortages of physicians and nurses in the state. Central Maryland, which is essentially the Baltimore metro area, is expected to have a 13 percent physician shortage ? the lowest among all jurisdictions.
Fielder said the location of the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University medical facilities make this area more attractive to doctors.
Nevertheless, a shortage will occur. The number of pathology, allergy and dermatology doctors will be critically low, as well as primary care physicians, the report indicates.
To bring physicians and improved health care to west county, hospitals, such as Baltimore-Washington Medical Center and Anne Arundel Medical Center, are building extension centers in Hanover.
County officials are looking for ways to pump in doctors in primary care centers and hospitals. Some are worried a lack of general practice doctors will mean an influx at emergency rooms for everyday illnesses.
“We?re approaching this regionally, particularly what is the impact going to be on emergency services and disaster assistance,” said Bob Leib, the county?s BRAC coordinator.
Medical officials have blamed the state?s doctor shortage on high malpractice insurance costs and low pay.
Fielder said the state could revamp its credentialing process to allow physicians to get reimbursed easier, meaning they would get paid sooner when opening a new practice.
BY THE NUMBERS
Not including the population expansion from the Base Realignment and Closure process, western Anne Arundel will need:
? 71 primary physicians
? 30 hospital-based physicians
? 21 medical specialists
? 21 psychiatrists
? 19 surgeons
Source: 2006 Anne Arundel County BRAC Task Force recommendations
