Doctor shortage looms as primary care loses its pull

Longer days, lower pay, less prestige, and more administrative headaches have turned doctors away in droves from family medicine. The number of U.S. medical school students going into primary care has dropped 51.8% since 1997, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. And if Congress passes health care legislation that extends insurance coverage to a significant part of the 47 million Americans who lack insurance, the need for more doctors is going to escalate.