Thu, March 28, 2024

CSRA at the forefront of tackling impending doctor shortages

Aiken Regional Medical Centers will be attracting, training, and retaining doctors through a new Internal Medicine program. Why is this important for attracting businesses to the CSRA? Quality of life which includes affordable housing, good schools, and medical care are on the shortlist for prospective new businesses.

The bottom line is this program will help address estimated physician shortages. Primary care, internal medicine, and emergency care doctors are at the top of the in-demand list. A recent report released by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) declared that the U.S. faces a projected shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians within 12 years.

A nursing shortage has also been predicted and as ABD reported earlier this year, Aiken Regional is being proactive in reversing that trend by offering a sign-on bonus of up to $25,000 for qualified nurses. They have scheduled job fairs throughout 2023, focusing on positions in nursing and support services.

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“Our team is committed to educating and training the next generation of physicians, and we are proud to be able to offer an additional residency training program at Aiken Regional,” said Matt Merrifield, Chief Executive Officer at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. “The continued growth of our residency programs is a huge benefit to Aiken and the surrounding communities, increasing access to high-quality care. The comprehensive clinical capabilities in our community continue to be the foundation of medical education and are also what attracts top talent to our residency programs and community.”

Aiken Regional’s Internal Medicine Residency Program is a three-year (36-month) postgraduate program. The program will welcome its first ten residents in July 2023, with three years of structured, supervised training alongside highly qualified faculty and dedicated medical staff. By July 2025, Aiken Regional will have 30 Internal Medicine Residents on staff and in training year-round in addition to its 18 Family Medicine Residents.

“Our team is actively accepting applications for Internal Medicine Residents to start this July,” said Khalid Abusaada, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine Director at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. “Residents will train alongside dedicated physicians in both the inpatient and outpatient setting to enhance their skills as clinicians, educators, and leaders in the healthcare delivery system. Our program’s mission is to train residents to practice evidence-based, patient-centered, compassionate care within both the hospital and community settings, and prepare competent physicians to continue into practice or fellowship opportunities.”

The goal of Aiken Regional’s graduate medical education program is to help address physician shortage concerns within the CSRA, and nearby areas of South Carolina. According to the American Medical Association, following residency training, 58.9% of Internal Medicine Residents practice in the same state in which they trained.

“Our goal with each of our residency programs is to attract physicians to the programs and our community, and provide advanced training,” said Merrifield. “We hope that as they live in our community while in residency, they’ll make the decision to reside and practice in our community long-term. It’s a win-win for all.”

Prospective residents interested in learning more about the graduate medical education program at Aiken Regional can visit www.aikenregional.com/GME.

Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means! 

If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.

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