Physician Shortages Continue to Strain Health Care Delivery, Survey Finds

A new Medscape survey of 1001 US physicians highlight a persistent and concerning shortage of qualified doctors, with 63% of respondents reporting a lack of available talent in their local job markets. The findings point to ongoing hiring challenges even as health care demand remains high.

Nearly 70% of physicians said their organizations are actively hiring for full- or part-time physician roles. The hiring push is more pronounced in hospitals and large health care systems compared to office-based practices, which may be due to care shifting toward larger, integrated networks.

Most organizations are seeking to fill fewer than 5 physician positions. According to Avalere Health’s Maddi Davidson, who was interviewed for the report, this relatively low number may reflect “natural turnover.” However, some physicians noted persistent challenges even in filling those limited roles.

Physicians raised concerns about the quality of applicants. Thirty percent said the quality of doctor applications has declined in recent years. Some pointed to medical school enrollment not keeping pace with population needs, while others questioned the robustness of medical training programs.

The sentiment of low confidence about future progress is widespread—almost 60% of physicians reported being “very unconfident” or “unconfident” that the physician shortage will be resolved within the next decade.

The implications of physician shortages are already being felt. Forty percent of respondents reported that staffing gaps have increased their patient load or required them to work longer hours. These conditions contribute to burnout and risk compounding the workforce shortage.

Jeff Decker, president of the physician and leadership solutions division at AMN Healthcare, said, “Physician shortages become a compounding problem because they drive physician burnout and turnover, leading to even worse shortages. At some point, you can stretch physicians and other providers only so far.”

Some physicians and analysts suggested more emphasis on hands-on experience during hiring, rather than focusing solely on credentials. The report also pointed to expanded use of immigrant labor through H1-B or new visa categories to bolster the physician pipeline.

The Medscape survey paints a stark picture of a health care system grappling with unmet workforce needs, such as hiring difficulties, burnout, and skepticism about long-term solutions, which continue to pose major challenges.

References 
Vogel, S. Physicians say fewer qualified doctors apply for jobs: report. Healthcare Dive. Published August 27, 2025. Accessed September 24, 2025. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/physicians-say-fewer-qualified-doctors-apply-jobs-medscape/758656/