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Community Corner

Will Health Care Law Affect Physician Availability?

Most people have had an experience with difficulty booking, or waiting for a doctor. The Wall Street Journal comments on a practical side of the health care law Supreme Court decision. Ballwin-Ellisville comments.

The Supreme Court last week as constitutional. No matter if you were elated or furious, if the policy goes in effect, logistical realities come along with implementation.

The Wall Street Journal Well Blog reports that 30 million Americans who will be set to receive care could be in for a suprise- the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the U.S. could be short 60,000 doctors by 2014, and 90,000 doctors by five years later.

The blog notes that the health care system is already struggling to keep care for an aging population. Analysts are hoping federal-backed residencies and incentives will lure in more recruits as a new system goes into effect.

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St. Luke’s Hospital, with several outshoots in the Ballwin-Ellisville area, hasn’t seen a problem with maintaining physicians to meet the needs of their patients. They are also preparing for any growth in primary care demand.

“To help meet the growing need for primary care, we are continuing to add primary care physicians to our medical staff, and we are also hiring other providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants,” said Scott Johnson, vice president of finance at St. Luke’s.

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In addition, St. Luke’s runs several urgent care centers in St. Louis, such as the one in Ellisville. Johnson notes that these are options for people who don’t have primary care or can’t wait for a physician appointment.

Ballwin resident Faith Arnold, 75, was outside a local pharmacy when I met her. She has arthritis and also a lung condition that requires her to make visits to a physician often. She is skeptical that the health care field can handle the demands.

“What, are you kidding me? I had to wait 2 hours for my appointment last week!” said Arnold. “I had to wait 3 months to get in the first place. No way can they tell me they have enough.”

Sandra Petroski, 35, of Ballwin was in scrubs in line at a local restaurant when I met her. She works in the home health field giving in-home care to patients who have difficulty with mobility.

“I mean, it’s a good job right now. I never lack hours and the agencies I work for do the best they can,” said Petroski. “But the paperwork required is already a nightmare. I can’t imagine it will get better with more government.”

The NYT blog mentions that some analysts predict that health care professionals will have more time, however, thanks to deceased time fighting with insurance companies over reimbursement.

Charles Travis, 37, of Ellisville, sees a chance for people who truly need care to not be subject to a system they can’t afford, even if it means a harder time seeing a physician.

“You know, the conservative in me fights it. But a friend got cancer treatment that saved his life,” said Travis, “and unfortunately it cost him his house. It doesn’t sit with me.”

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