Survey: Mass. primary care docs in short supply

BOSTON (AP) — A new report finds that Massachusetts continues to experience a critical shortage of primary care physicians and geographical disparities in the hiring and retention of doctors.

On a more positive note, the annual Physician Workforce Study set for release by the Massachusetts Medical Society on Wednesday also found a growing number of doctors willing to embrace cost-saving techniques such as accountable care organizations.

The survey found critical or severe shortages in family medicine and internal medicine, the two primary care specialties, for an eighth consecutive year in the Bay State.

About three-quarters of physicians surveyed in western Massachusetts cited difficulty in recruiting doctors to join their practices, and about half said they struggled to retain staff that was hired.

By contrast, only 18 percent of respondents in greater Boston said they had trouble filling vacancies.

Cox Media Group