PRINTER'S NO. 2964
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
625
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SCHEMEL, DECEMBER 2, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, DECEMBER 2, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study on medical student choice in primary care and issue a
report.
WHEREAS, A report on physician shortage in this Commonwealth
was generated in response to House Resolution No.735 (2014); and
WHEREAS, The 2015 report on physician shortage recommended
improving physician work force data collection and analysis; and
WHEREAS, The 2015 report on physician shortage recommended
encouraging medical schools to implement programs aimed at
increasing this Commonwealth's physician supply; and
WHEREAS, The 2015 report on physician shortage recommended
establishing a State pipeline program to prepare students for
medical careers; and
WHEREAS, The 2015 report suggested that pipeline programs can
address health care disparities with students from rural areas
more likely to practice in rural areas and minority students
more likely to practice in underserved areas; and
WHEREAS, The 2015 report on physician shortage recommended
increasing the number of residency positions in order to train
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more physicians in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Data suggests that by 2030, this Commonwealth will
require an additional 1,039 primary care physicians, which
represents an increase of 11% more than the current workforce,
to maintain the status quo; and
WHEREAS, There are currently seven allopathic and two
osteopathic medical schools in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Uncertainty surrounds medical schools' reports of
the percentage of their students entering primary care as nearly
100% of family medicine residents remain in primary care, only
approximately 25% of internal medicine residents and 50% of
pediatrics residents remain in primary care; and
WHEREAS, Thirty-two percent of physicians in this
Commonwealth completed their undergraduate medical education
(UME) in this Commonwealth and 57% of physicians completed their
UME and graduate medical education (GME) in this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, Only 12.6% of United States allopathic and
osteopathic seniors enter Accreditation Commission for Graduate
Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited family medicine programs
and 11.4% of Pennsylvania allopathic and osteopathic seniors
enter ACGME-accredited family medicine programs; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians is
committed to increasing the percentage of allopathic and
osteopathic medical school graduates choosing family medicine to
25% by 2030; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study on efforts within
medical schools to promote student choice in primary care, to
include primary care experience in the curriculum and
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accurately monitor and report graduate retention in primary care
and issue a report to the General Assembly; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission seek
input and information as appropriate from the following:
(1) The Department of State.
(2) The Department of Health.
(3) Pennsylvania medical school deans or a designated
representative.
(4) The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians.
(5) The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
(6) The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of
Physicians.
(7) The Pennsylvania Association of Community Health
Centers.
(8) Other persons that are knowledgeable of the issues
surrounding medical student choice in primary care;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report of the Joint State Government
Commission contain findings and recommendations and include any
proposed legislation or funding regarding the following:
(1) Percentage of students entering and remaining in
primary care specialties by institution.
(2) Demographics of students entering and remaining in
primary care specialties by institution such as birth county,
race, ethnicity, gender and age.
(3) Percentage of students entering primary care who
remain in State for GME and for practice.
(4) Institutional mechanisms to track percentage of
students remaining in primary care.
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(5) Efforts to promote primary care within each
institution.
(6) Special programming or educational tracks to
promote primary care by institution.
(7) Special programming or opportunities for students
underrepresented in medicine.
(8) Percentage of students participating in National
Health Service Corps.
(9) Average medical school debt of students entering
into primary care specialties;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of its findings and recommendations to the General
Assembly within one year of the adoption of this resolution.
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