Please respond to each classmate with at least 125 words with a reference each.

Please respond to each classmate with at least 125 words with a reference each. Discussion 1
Discussion 1 (Jennifer)
The uneven distribution of medical graduates favoring specialties over primary care creates substantial challenges for the U.S. healthcare system. Primary care is essential for promoting overall health and early diagnosis and management of potential health issues. To rectify this imbalance, a comprehensive approach is needed that involves various stakeholders, including insurers, medical schools, the government, and professional organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA).
Medical schools and residency programs are vital in developing tomorrow’s workforce. It is essential for these institutions to highlight the significance of primary care and motivate students to enter this specialty. For instance, offering scholarships, loan forgiveness, and various financial incentives for students who pledge to practice primary care in underserved communities can be effective (Sultz & Young, 2017). Moreover, increasing the number of primary care rotations and providing mentorship opportunities with primary care physicians during training can encourage students to consider careers in this field (Chen et al., 2018). The government has a significant role in addressing the primary care shortage through policy changes and funding. The federal government can increase funding for primary care residency programs and provide grants to medical schools that focus on primary care training. Policies that support primary care practitioners, such as increased reimbursement rates for primary care services under Medicare and Medicaid, can also make these careers more financially viable (Sultz & Young, 2017). Furthermore, implementing policies that reduce administrative burdens on primary care physicians can enhance job satisfaction and retention in this field.
Insurance companies can enhance support for primary care providers by adjusting reimbursement models. Implementing value-based care models, which reward physicians based on care quality rather than quantity can increase the attractiveness of primary care. Additionally, increasing reimbursement rates for primary care services may encourage more physicians to join the field. Insurers could also provide bonuses or financial incentives for primary care physicians who achieve specific quality metrics or serve in underserved areas.
Professional organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) are responsible for advocating for the value of primary care. They can lobby for policy changes that support primary care practitioners and work to shift the cultural perception within the medical community. Through campaigns and educational programs, the AMA can promote primary care as a prestigious and rewarding career choice (Sultz & Young, 2017).
Multiple stakeholders are responsible for correcting the misplaced focus on specialty care at the expense of primary care. Medical schools must emphasize primary care training, governments must create supportive policies, insurers should adjust reimbursement models, and professional organizations should champion the importance of primary care. Collaboration among these groups will help tackle the primary care shortage and promote a more balanced and effective healthcare system.
Discussion 2 (Maria)
For years, despite various measures, physician shortage in the U.S. has been a constant concern. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges projections, the U.S. will face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036 in primary and specialty care. Medical schools, the government, insurance companies, the American Medical Association (AMA), and hospital institutions have played a role in the fluctuations of physicians choosing a career in primary care or specialty.
Medical school’s cost, rigorous curriculum, and training turned many potentials in medicine to seek other healthcare professions while others in medical school obtain negative theories about general practice (Cooper et al., 2023). Specialized physicians in teaching hospital institutions can greatly influence their residents in training. They are geared and motivated to train residents in the same specialty and hire them post-fellowship. A neurologist had told me that “the residency program was an opportunity to find one or two that they could train, who are a great fit, and one that would be an amazing addition to their department.” A pediatrician had shared that some “specialties such as cardiologist or neurologist do not consider them as real physicians, because primary care was at the bottom of the “food chain” in the physician hierarchy. She emphasized that “primary care was not a reputable career in medicine along with the income owning your private practice.”
The government, AMA, and insurance companies have aligned goals that have moved the direction of the healthcare system and its delivery with healthcare reforms and policies. It has changed how physicians provide healthcare for patients. Many physicians’ frustrations with the modifications and restrictions have led them to start their own private medical business or change careers (Sultz & Young, 2017).
Whether physicians who complete their residency decide to choose their careers in primary care or a specialty, the healthcare system will continue to address the shortage as it has for years. For example, Congress will have to find solutions such as an increase in residency slots (AMA, 2024). Some physicians who follow their altruistic heart may find their way to a career in primary care.