A solution for the massive doctor surplus

Yes, the government should immediately hire a boatload of health professionals. Because, you know, it's not like there isn't already a massive shortage of doctors (1, 2, 3, 4) and its not like the nursing shortage isn't actually even worse (1, 2, 3, 4). Adding doctors and nurses isn't exactly shovel ready work; at best a future doctor is still 8 years in the making, plus residency time. Nurses typically take 4-6 years, and typically bail out of the business in less time than that. Unless the U.S. rapidly expands the number of accredited medical schools in this country the shortage will only get worse, but for now, there is no quick fix.

The other obvious problem being that who the hell wants to be a VA doc? The pay sucks, the patients are all dying, your boss is a bureaucrat, the insurance claim system is a nightmare, etc etc. There's just no incentive for doctors that are highly in demand to choose a low-reward specialty like VA.

So here's how I would fix it: Obama needs to fund college and medical or nursing school for any high school graduate willing to specialize in VA. If you are a college student and qualify to enter medical school, your college tuition is paid for you, and all loans are forgiven. Your medical school tuition is paid for you. Your residency stipend is generous. All you must do is give the VA system 10 years of good doctoring after you finish your residency. All current medical students that volunteer will have all undergraduate and medical school loans forgiven and all future tuition paid. They will be given a generous stipend during residency.

Obviously, what I am getting at here is that Obama needs to incentivize VA medicine for doctors and nurses to the point that there will be an immediate influx of qualified professionals.


_