Albany, N.Y., and southwest Georgia have adopted different approaches to recruit gastroenterologists in the face of a growing shortage in the specialty, according to a report by the Albany Herald.
With local gastroenterologists currently operating at 90 percent capacity, Albany Gastroenterology is interviewing new physicians, which is challenging in a smaller metropolitan area. Meanwhile, Phoebe Putney Health System in Georgia is building a new gastrointestinal and endoscopy center to attract gastroenterologists to a mostly rural area.
A 2009 study by the Lewin Group said the nation would need 1,050 more gastroenterologists by 2020 at current colorectal cancer screening rates and as many as 1,550 more gastroenterologists if screening rates were increased by 10 percent.
Read the Albany Herald report on recruiting gastroenterologists.
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