What Are The Economic Costs Of Georgia’s Physician Shortage?

Georgia is currently ranked 38th in the country in active physician to population ratio according to the 2017 AAMC Georgia Physician Workforce Profile. Tripp Umbach, the nation’s leading medical education planning organization, estimates that a projected shortage of 1,500 primary care physicians in underserved areas would cost the State of Georgia $5.4 billion annually in delayed healthcare costs. According to Tripp Umbach, each physician that provides primary care in an underserved area saves the state $3.6 million annually for care that would have been provided in an emergency room. The AU/UGA Medical Partnership is working to alleviate this physician shortage.