Final
Meeting Physician Workforce Demands
HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE
Votes:
Action Taken:
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01:43 PM -- Meeting Physician Workforce Demands
Dr. Krugman. Dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, gave a brief background of his employment history. He discussed the physician workforce demands and distributed three handouts: Attachment S is a PowerPoint presentation on the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Attachment T is an article he wrote entitled "Preparing for a Doctor Shortage" that appeared in the Denver Post on October 2, 2005; and Attachment U is the University of Colorado School of Medicine's curriculum. He gave a brief overview of the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado. He explained the School of Medicine's mission is to provide Colorado, the nation, and the world with programs of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and community service.
Dr. Krugman explained there is a need for more physicians due to: 1) managed care; 2) Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels; 3) the lifestyle of the new group of doctors who are more interested in the career hours rather than the salary; and 4) the debt to income ratio. He stated the average debt incurred by the a medical student is $100,000 a year at public universities and $125,000 - $150,000 a year for private universities, and it must be repaid in the 3rd year of residency. Dr. Krugman went on to explain that Colorado's population is growing rapidly and the University of Colorado School of Medicine is the only medical school within 500 miles of Denver.
Dr. Krugman explained what the School of Medicine has done to address the shortage. He stated the school's move to Fitzsimons will allow more students to enroll. He also mentioned they have implemented a new curriculum and have explored the expansion for clinical rotations to the Western Slope in Grand Junction. Senator Mitchell asked Dr. Krugman what the biggest changes to the curriculum were, and Dr. Krugman explained that they moved to a department-based curriculum with classes now being taught by a clinician and a PhD professor. He stated that ethics is now incorporated into each class instead of teaching it as its own class and that now they focus on the students learning in small groups rather than large lectures.
02:05 PM
Dr. Krugman answered questions from the committee.