HOUSTON – In a city like Houston, known for housing the largest medical center in the world and five medical schools, a troubling trend is emerging: healthcare providers are disappearing. The American Medical Association (AMA) is raising alarms that Texans may be losing access to nurses and doctors.
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Health Reporter Haley Hernandez recently spoke with Dr. Bruce Scott, president of the AMA, about the challenges currently facing the healthcare system. He emphasized the urgent need to address the nursing and physician shortage now to avoid a future crisis.
Burnout and its consequences
One of the most significant issues driving providers out of practice is burnout. Dr. Scott highlighted that health insurance and Medicare are demanding more from doctors while providing less support.
The AMA estimates that physicians’ salaries have decreased by 33% since 2001. At this rate, Dr. Scott warns there could be a shortage of 80,000+ doctors in just ten years.
“The challenge with that is that it takes eight to ten years to train a physician,” Dr. Scott said.
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Rural areas are already feeling the impact, with patients in small towns sometimes forced to drive over 100 miles to receive medical treatment. In Gaines County, for instance, patients with measles must travel an hour and a half to reach Lubbock for care. Even attempts by large companies to fill the gap in rural healthcare have often failed. Last year, Walmart announced it would close all 51 of its newly opened health clinics, including those in Texas.
The role of telemedicine
While telemedicine has emerged as a potential solution to some of these issues, Dr. Scott cautioned that there are limitations to what can be accomplished over the phone.
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Additionally, the future of telehealth remains uncertain, particularly due to funding challenges.
“Physicians sometimes are hesitant to invest in the technology that would really make telehealth more important,” he noted.
Optimism amid challenges
When asked about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, Dr. Scott expressed cautious optimism. He acknowledged that many physicians are excited about the potential of AI to reduce administrative burdens, improve diagnostic accuracy, and assist with rare and complex diseases.
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However, he also raised concerns about how health insurance companies might use AI to deny care more rapidly.
“The solution is not utilizing AI to more rapidly deny more,” Dr. Scott said. “The American Medical Association feels strongly that medical decisions should be made by a physician consulting with a patient, not by a computer algorithm at their insurance company.”
He emphasized that while AI can be a valuable tool, it should augment, not replace, the physician’s role.
The rise of direct primary care
As healthcare costs continue to strain both patients and physicians, more individuals may turn to direct primary care or concierge medicine. This model allows patients to pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to their doctor, which can improve costs for both parties, especially for those who choose to forgo insurance and pay out of pocket.
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Although, with fees ranging from $100-$200 per month, some families may still avoid budgeting for that.
