National Association Recognizes New Jersey as a "Distressed Practice Environment" for Family Physicians

TRENTON, N.J., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as a concern raised by the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians (NJAFP), has escalated to a state-wide problem receiving national attention. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has concurred with New Jersey's designation as a "Distressed Practice Environment" and has expressed a willingness to research and support strategies for addressing this plight.  

By definition, a "Distressed Practice Environment" is one in which there exists: a decrease in the number of physicians choosing primary care, an increase in the number of physicians selecting sub-specialties, a high number of family medicine trained New Jersey medical school graduates opting to practice outside the state, low primary care physician salaries, and an aging population.

With fewer physicians attracted to family medicine, researchers anticipate a significant shortage of family physicians by 2025. New Jersey is expected to bear the brunt of this shortfall. According to NJAFP President Robert Eidus, MD, "We are trending toward a situation where regions of the state could lose access to family medicine."

Feedback from NJAFP's members suggests that family physicians are struggling. "They struggle to coordinate care while besieged by increased non-compensable requirements and administrative burdens. They struggle to find enough time to treat patients. They struggle to continue to practice coordinated, caring medicine as they were trained to do. But they are losing the battle," said Eidus.

Getting Started

"Addressing New Jersey's Distressed Practice Environment requires innovative ideas," stated Eidus. Options being explored by NJAFP and AAFP include adopting a multi-payer Patient Centered Medical Home initiative, instituting a common set of administrative rules for all health insurers, and incentivizing state-funded medical schools to increase the number of family medicine graduates. Eidus anticipates these efforts will save money, improve access to care, and restore balance between family physicians and sub-specialists.

Richard L Corson, MD, will participate in the November 4 AAFP Legislative Conference in Salt Lake City as NJAFP's representative. The conference will focus on key health policy issues before state governments. As New Jersey strives to ensure access to quality primary care that family physicians provide, Distressed Practice Environments are likely to receive significant attention.

NJAFP

For more than 50 years the NJAFP, the state's largest primary care medical society, has promoted excellence in the standards and practice of Family Medicine. Visit  www.NJAFP.org for information.

For interviews, contact Beth Drost or Leza Raffel (215-884-6499)

SOURCE New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians