Expanding US Medical Residency Programs

This petition is seeking for Congress to increase the number of Medical Residency positions in the US by a) funding more positions, and b) redefining residencies to allow more positions.

     The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 froze the number of medical residents eligible for funding at 1996 levels, although various programs managed to increase residencies by obtaining grants and using alternative funding. 
     In 2006, there were 21,659 positions available.  19,349 graduating medical school seniors applied to the match (the system for filling the positions), leaving 2310 positions to be filled by US citizens who graduated from international medical school, and non-citizen graduates of international medical schools.

     Since then, US Medical schools have been called upon to increase class size to provide for an anticipated physician shortage.  In 2010 there were 22,809 positions (all information here is from The National Residency Match Program, advance data tables, 2010 Match), and 23670 seniors applying , leaving 861 without the possibility of a position.  In fact, the situation is worse as 4704 positions went to US citizens who graduated from international medical school, and non-citizen graduates of international medical schools; leaving 4121 Graduating US Seniors without a position.  The vast majority of this number have  student debt and at the current level of available residencies they will never find a position as medical schools continue to increase class size.

     A quick read of the 2010 residency statistics shows that there are over 6000 residency ready doctors living in the United States who cannot get a position.  While some are advocating a moratorium on foreign doctors, we have to note that by bringing the best and brightest from the rest of the world  improves our system.

     Medical residencies are funded by the US government.  In the short term we need congress to fund new programs for Primary Care (Internal and family medicine).

     But, more importantly, we need congress to revisit the Public Health Service Act which funds residencies and directs how they operate.  We need to expand the concept of residency so that prospective doctors can fulfill their requirements in other positions than at teaching hospitals.  Clinics, treatment centers, and even private practices should be able to hire these qualified individuals and allow them to get credit serving a residency in this manner.  Such a resident will not have the career flexibility of a traditional resident, but if the physician intends a career in primary care, why shouldn't he be able to do his residency in that setting?

     Such programs would be cheaper and would provide openings for the thousands of un/under employed physicians in the Country.  Small clinics and practices could hire qualified candidates on a limited license to work similar to Physician's Assistants, with a fully licensed doctor supervising them and taking responsibility for their training.