Is there a shortage of rheumatologists?

Question: Is there a shortage of rheumatologists?

Answer: It is already predicted that in the coming years, we will be faced with physician shortages. Many physicians are leaving practices for a number of reasons, and enrollment in medical schools have dropped sharply. Inevitably this will lead to delays in appointments, longer waiting for the physician, and shorter appointment time. The field of rheumatology has expanded and become more popular and necessary, as we have developed the many new effective treatments for previously considered untreatable inflammatory arthritis. Degenerative arthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is found predominantly in the elderly, and we are a population of aging senior citizens, living much longer than our parents. Now the good news. Until more students again choose medicine as a career, rheumatology like many other medical specialties, will train dedicated nurse practitioners and medical assistants to work as a team, along with, but supervised by a rheumatologist. Ideally, quality of care will be unchanged. (Answer provided by the late Dr. Raymond Federman, aka Dr. Bones, who passed away on September 2, 2003. The care of his patients even in retirement was always his joy.)