With a fast growing population, finding a doctor is a challenge here in Northern Nevada.
To meet national average, we'd need 2,400 to 2,500 more doctors in Nevada right now. They say, in part, the issue comes down to supply and demand.
“We are seeing physicians from a lot of specialties move to our region but again, not again not as quickly as the population is growing,” John Packham Associate Dean at the University of Nevada, Reno Medicine School.
He says a lot of energy is being devoted to graduate medical education. The goal is to keep doctors they do teach here in Nevada. That is hard due to the lack of residency spots. Doctors finish med school and when they cannot further their education here, they have to leave.
“If you grow those programs, physicians complete those in Nevada, they are more likely to stay than leave, that is a critical factor to keeping doctors here in Nevada,” said Packham.
He also says that Nevada is an attractive area to doctors. 54 percent of those who complete their education here tend to stay.
For more information, visit med.unr.edu.
