MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Doctors are in high demand across the country and health officials in Horry County say there is a shortage of physicians here.
Urgent care facilities help fill in the health care gap so people can access providers, but the latest numbers show the shortfall is only expected to grow.
A 2016 study by the Association of American Medical Colleges says the shortage of doctors is expected to be between 45,000 and 90,000 by 2025.
“Particularly when it comes to primary care, there’s a huge deficit, really across the country,” said Mark Sims, the CEO of Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
Sims said an aging and overall growing population will place higher demands on the health care system in Horry County.
“The fastest growing age group is 65 plus, we already know that, nobody’s surprised by that, but the two second fastest are pediatrics, 0-17 and 25-34 so we’ve got a nice mix of growth,” said Sims.
The administrator keeps close track of the growing demographics, looking out and trying to anticipate what the community’s needs will be moving forward.
Sims said it’s clear there will be a demand for more doctors practicing, so the hospital started a residency program last year to train new doctors here.
“And we have plans to add 3 to 4 fellowship programs that we want to add as well,” said Sims.
By 2020 that means 160 more doctors will be in training and seeing patients locally.
“Right now for example we have an internal medicine residency practice that’s open for new patients and what’s unique about it for me is you’re going to see more than one physician, you’ll see the resident and then you’ll also see a board certified internal medicine physician,” said Sims.
There could be also added benefit for the doctor shortage long-term, Sims said 60% of residents stay within 50 miles of where they complete their program.
“We think it’s magnified here with the environment we have here on the Grand Strand that it will help us to retain more of those,” said Sims.
The program continues to grow, it will welcome its second class of general surgery and internal medicine residents this July, with more programs to follow in coming years.
