A Growing Problem in Healthcare
People often ask me if I miss working with patients. I spent ten years in physical therapy before switching to a job in health technology. My answer is always the same. I don’t.
I’m not the only one who feels this way. More and more doctors, nurses, and therapists are leaving healthcare, and there aren’t enough new workers to replace them. This is happening across the entire medical field, not just in physical therapy.
Right now, there is about one doctor for every 310 people in the United States, and that number is shrinking. Many doctors are retiring, and fewer new doctors are entering the workforce. Almost half of all doctors are over 55 years old, and many are leaving their jobs earlier than expected due to stress and frustration.
If this trend continues, there won’t be enough healthcare workers to care for everyone. That means longer wait times, fewer check-ups, and worse health overall. Some people will have to pay extra for special care just to see a doctor without waiting months.
There isn’t just one reason why so many doctors and nurses are leaving, but two big problems stand out. The first is the high cost of medical school, which makes it hard for new workers to enter the field.
Medical School is Too Expensive
Whenever student loans are discussed, people argue that students should just pay back what they borrowed. But the truth is, medical school debt is a huge problem.
Right now, students who want to become doctors have to take out loans with high interest rates, sometimes as high as 7 percent. That means they end up paying back far more than they originally borrowed. These loans start adding up right away, and even though students don’t have to make payments until after graduation, their total debt keeps growing.
The average cost of medical school is $167,000 for a public school and $275,000 for a private school. That only covers tuition and fees—it doesn’t include rent, food, and other living costs. On top of that, most doctors also go to college for four years before medical school, which costs thousands more.
In 2024, nearly 28,000 students graduated from medical school in the U.S. with an average debt of $243,000. Because of high interest rates, most doctors take between 10 and 30 years to pay off their loans. If they borrowed money for college too, they could be paying off debt for their entire career.
Other healthcare workers face similar problems.
Nurses with an associate’s degree owe about $20,000 in loans.
Nurses with a master’s degree owe around $50,000.
Nurse practitioners owe up to $190,000.
Physical therapists owe about $150,000.
Because of this debt, many healthcare workers delay buying homes, cars, or even taking vacations. While some doctors eventually make good money, their debt makes it much harder to enjoy financial freedom. For nurses and therapists, the problem is even worse because they don’t earn as much.
The cost of medical school is only one reason why healthcare workers are leaving. The second major issue is too much paperwork and red tape, which makes their jobs frustrating and exhausting.
Too Much Paperwork is Driving Doctors and Nurses Away
Many people don’t realize how much time doctors and nurses spend filling out paperwork instead of treating patients.
When I trained physical therapy students, I taught them how to complete their paperwork as quickly as possible. My goal was for them to write evaluations in under 20 minutes, progress notes in under 10 minutes, and daily notes in under five minutes. The best ones could eventually complete these in 10, five, and two minutes.
Even at those speeds, a full day’s work could include two evaluations, two progress notes, and eight daily notes. That adds up to about an hour of paperwork per day, and that’s not counting other required tasks like:
Getting approval from insurance companies
Writing discharge summaries
Updating patient care plans
Creating home exercise programs
Many healthcare workers have to finish their paperwork during lunch or after hours because they don’t have time during the day.
To make things worse, insurance companies keep adding more paperwork and rules. They now require more approvals, limit the number of patient visits, and demand extra documentation before paying for care.
At the same time, insurance companies are paying less for medical services.
Medical costs, student loan payments, and the cost of living keep rising, but insurance companies are not increasing how much they pay doctors, nurses, and therapists. In some cases, they are cutting payments even more.
Hospitals and clinics still need to pay their staff, so they demand that doctors and nurses see more patients in less time. This leads to burnout, frustration, and eventually, many leave patient care completely.
How to Fix the Healthcare Worker Shortage
The healthcare worker shortage is a big problem, but there are some possible solutions.
Lowering the Cost of Medical School
Many people never even consider becoming a doctor or nurse because of the cost. Loan forgiveness programs, scholarships, and tuition reform could make healthcare careers more affordable. The government could also invest in medical training to reduce financial barriers for students.
Reducing Paperwork and Administrative Work
Hospitals and insurance companies spend over $83 billion every year on administrative costs. Cutting unnecessary paperwork and improving electronic health record systems would allow doctors and nurses to focus on patient care instead of forms.
Paying Healthcare Workers Fairly
Many insurance companies do not pay enough to cover the true cost of medical care. This puts a financial strain on hospitals and private practices. Raising reimbursement rates for primary care and essential services would make healthcare jobs more sustainable.
Many private insurance companies also delay or deny payments, making it harder for doctors to get paid. Some healthcare providers are now choosing to stop accepting major insurance plans, deciding that working outside of the system is better for them and their patients.
Expanding the Roles of Other Healthcare Workers
Right now, many people wait weeks or even months to see a doctor. Expanding the roles of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physical therapists could help reduce wait times and improve care.
For example, if more people saw physical therapists first for muscle or joint pain, it could reduce the need for unnecessary doctor visits and lower healthcare costs.
Using Technology to Help, Not Replace, Doctors
Artificial intelligence, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring can make healthcare more efficient, but they should be used to help doctors, not replace them. Technology should be focused on reducing workload, improving diagnosis, and making patient scheduling easier.
Moving Forward
The healthcare provider shortage will not fix itself. Lowering the cost of education, cutting unnecessary paperwork, increasing pay, and expanding healthcare roles could help prevent more doctors, nurses, and therapists from leaving the field.
If these problems are not addressed, the shortage will continue to grow, and it will become even harder for people to get the care they need.
While I no longer work in clinical care, I am still involved in healthcare. The company I work for helps medical practices expand their direct pay options. This model allows providers to work directly with employers instead of relying on private insurance companies, ensuring fair pay and better patient outcomes.
The only ones who lose in this system are the private insurers.
Now is the time for healthcare leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to take action. Without meaningful change, the healthcare worker shortage will continue to worsen, leaving patients with fewer options and longer wait times for care.
Comments