Malpractice crisis blamed; Fewer U.S. seniors match to ob.gyn. residency slots: the fill rate for this group falls to 65.1%
OB/GYN News, April 1, 2004 by Jennifer Silverman
Fewer U.S. medical students matched to ob.gyn. residency positions again this year, renewing concerns that the medical liability crisis is driving students away from the profession.

A total of 1,142 ob.gyn. positions were offered this year, 9 fewer than in 2003. Graduating seniors filled 1,066 of those positions, an overall fill rate of 93.3% that marks an increase of 2.1% from last year, according to statistics released by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

The number of ob.gyn. residency slots filled by students graduating from U.S. medical schools dropped more dramatically, however. Only 743 U.S. seniors matched to ob.gyn. this year, 43 fewer than in 2003, and 219 fewer than in 1994. The fill rate for U.S. seniors fell again this year, to 65.1%.

The drop in U.S. seniors “is not unexpected,” considering that medical students have major trepidations about the medical liability crisis, Dr. John M. Gibbons Jr., president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told this newspaper.

The medical liability premium crisis “has gone from number two to number one in terms of the most serious concern prompting people not to go into ob.gyn.,” Dr. Gibbons said.

http://www.gobelle.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_7_39/ai_n5996293

SHOWS NUMBER OF SPOTS IN OB-GYN FILLED BY US GRADS WENT FROM 80% TO 65% BETWEEN 1998-2004.

I was being sarcastic, but I didn’t realize you would be so sensitive. I figured since you’ve got no problem dishing it, that you might be OK with taking it. Forgive me if I was mistaken.

I apologize. You wouldn’t know that the quality of applicants applying to a specialty are rated by the NRMP (matching service) and RRC (residency review committee) through Board Scores, class rank, etc. Psychic? What does being a psychic have to do with the fact that when a specialty becomes less popular (ie OB-GYN) programs are forced to fill it with Foreign Grads who statistically have much greater difficulty passsing the specialty Boards? Am I psychic because the average Board scores and class rank for high risk specialties has gone down in the last five years? I thought lawyers don’t insult those they debate with anyway?

Thanks for the brilliant lesson on how the world works.

I don’t think any doc expects to practice in a “vacuum” resistant to criticism and responsibility. Is that your prejudicial view?

On the other end of the spectrum I would doubt that you hold the view that every bad outcome is the direct result of “bad” medicine.

I would favor a system like New Zealand where there is review and restitution to the victims of malpractice. Other than the big awards that lawyers are aiming for, most victims in this country get very little restitution. It is all eaten up by the legal process.

It seems like you want to practice in a vacuum where your decisions never have to be explained or questioned, and you can never be held responsible if they are wrong.

Sounds nice. But that’s not how the world works.

I don’t think anyone disputes that there is a cost to “defensive medicine”, however you define it. What the dispute is over is what to do about it. Or if there is anything you can do about it.

Does it help the physician? I don’t know of any data. Distinctions between “good”, “defensive”, and “bad” medicine are often difficult, especially when made in real time while managing a department full of patients. Psychologically, I will feel a lot better if that “soft” chest pain patient rules in with a heart attack while in the hospital rather than at home. Then there is the annoying customer service aspect. If a patient requests a test/admission that I don’t think is indicated, patient complaints are filed, and Hospital administration wants the doc to shoulder the problem. Who wants to be annoyed with that all of time?

What I do know is that it costs a lot of money despite the naysayers. I can estimate cost, and I am sure other physicians in different specialties can as well.

Now you can even judge the quality of applicants into a specialty even though you’ve never seen them. A first rate statistician AND a psychic.

I bet your resume kicks butt!