There was a great revelation that
occurred during the frustrating process of trying to contact my
legislators.After no responses to my
countless emails and phone calls, I realized that doctors who are members of the
State medical association have MEDICAL PRACTICES!I googled the names and addresses of members
of both the State and National Legislative Councils for the Florida Medical
Association.My husband and I sent
letters by US mail to each of these council members.Within days my husband received phone calls
from a number of these doctors.They
were very interested in the issue of “Residency Shortage”, and quite appalled
by the current travesty.
It turns out, most physicians and
healthcare professionals, do not really know the enormity of this
situation.The ramifications for
unmatched graduate doctors unable to complete their training are
appalling.The natural consequence of
“discarding” thousands of graduated and fully qualified doctors at a time when
there is an impending doctor shortage (up to 90,000 doctors over the next
decade) is complete insanity!
This is all going on ”under the radar”. These unmatched doctors are so
mortified and despondent, they’re not broadcasting this dire situation to
friends and family.It is very humbling,
because 20 years ago and before the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, all doctor
graduates matched into a residency.The
impression is that somehow they have failed, when it is the system which has
failed them.They are not stupid, there
is a SHORTAGE!
