Higher Proportion of Older Physicians in NYS than Elsewhere

A new report issued by the Center for Workforce Studies of the Association for American Medical Colleges provides further evidence that New York's graduate medical education (GME) system provides the principal training ground for the State's physicians. According to the 2007 State Physician Workforce Data Book, New York ranks first in the country in terms of the percentage of active physicians in a state who completed GME in that state. That is, an analysis of where each state's pool of fully trained physicians received GME training reveals that New York has by far the highest proportion who benefited from their own state's GME system. Three-fourths of New York's fully trained and active physicians received GME from a New York residency program and teaching hospital. In Illinois, the second-ranked state, just over 60% of the fully trained and active physicians were trained in the state.
     
The report does include one warning sign for policymakers with regard to New York's physician workforce and planning for the future. According to the report, New York ranks second nationally—just behind California—in the proportion of active physicians aged 60 or older. Almost 28% of New York's active physicians are aged 60 or older, compared with the state median of 22%. Data on the aging of the physician workforce in different states was included in the report to assist policymakers with physician workforce planning.