The healthcare industry continues to face dramatic shortages of healthcare workers nationwide.
As demand for healthcare services grows, the gap between needed and available professionals widens. Finding quality access (especially timely access) is complex enough in large urban areas, but even more challenging in rural communities, many of which are in the throes of a healthcare crisis. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts a loss of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians across primary and specialty care over the next twelve years.
While physician burnout, aging patient and physician populations, mounting debt, and limited access to healthcare in rural locations are all contributing factors, telemedicine rises above these barriers and not only combats the current shortage but also provides safe, adequate care while doing so.
Expanding Access to Expertise
One of the lasting perks of telemedicine is that it isn’t relegated to a specific office or location. It always has been, and always will be, virtual. This not only affords people in rural areas access to quality care but also allows healthcare workers in remote regions to precept with experienced professionals in their respective fields, even if the preceptors themselves live miles away, equipping new trainees with the skills they need.
Training more professionals simultaneously
We already know healthcare demand is far outnumbering supply. By leveraging telemedicine, a single preceptor can mentor multiple trainees in virtual programs, like MomentMD’s, across different locations and specialties and, therefore, single-handedly impact potentially multiple communities of care. Telemedicine has also proven advantageous for required continuing education credits, as it supports healthcare workers virtually, permitting them to stay focused on their current roles and responsibilities while providing remote access to specialized skills and knowledge via telemedicine portals.
Retaining Skilled Workers
The healthcare worker shortage, by extension, means there is also a need for more preceptors available to train and mentor students. Because of this, many students cannot receive the required hours to graduate. Many experienced clinicians could be unable to participate in in-person precepting, possibly because of their health/age, location, time constraints, or even burnout. Telemedicine allows those clinicians to continue contributing to workforce development without being physically on their feet.
Augment Recruiting Efforts
Having a solid candidate pool is one battle–hiring them for roles for which they’re best suited is another. Precepting programs like MomentMD connect standout new graduates with organizations looking to recruit fresh talent. Because all MomentMD precepting is conducted virtually, we can recommend reputable new grads regardless of where they’re based or where they’re applying.
Geographical Flexibility
Telemedicine assists healthcare professionals in reaching patients in rural or underserved regions without the need to be physically present. This can provide a significant patchwork to the gap where healthcare workers are scarce.
While telemedicine is not the cure-all for the shortage of healthcare workers, it is a critical tool that can alleviate some pressures. By leveraging technology to extend reach, maximize efficiency, and enhance collaboration, telemedicine ensures that quality care remains accessible–despite staffing challenges.