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March 31, 2023

Why the U.S. Health Care System Must Address the Shortage of Geriatricians Now

The U.S. healthcare system is facing a shortage of geriatricians that must be addressed immediately, writes Professor Jeffrey D. Shahidullah at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School in Next Avenue. “The baby boomer generation now counts roughly half of its population in the 65 and older category,” he notes. Also, healthier living is not trending across the population. “Nearly 95 percent of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease and almost 80 percent have at least two,” Shahidullah notes. “Older adults with more chronic conditions tend to have fewer financial resources.” The United States currently has approximately 7,300 board-certified geriatricians, comprising fewer than 1 percent of U.S. physicians. In order to …

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