Physician recruitment: Slow but steady growth

In a recent issue of The Press, JoAnn Lokken pointed out a critical problem we face in Idaho; a severe deficit in physicians. This is also a national problem that is challenging in North Idaho. Nationally, the Association of American Medical College is predicting a nationwide shortage of nearly 122,000 physicians by 2032. Locally, Idaho currently ranks 49th in the nation for the number of physicians per capita. Our local situation is further exacerbated by the fact that many of our existing providers are retiring and competition to recruit newly graduated physicians is coming from all over the United States.

Here are a few of the specific actions Kootenai Health is taking to help curb the problem so JoAnn and the rest of us in North Idaho have access to the care we need close to home.

First, to help recruit other providers and specialists, Kootenai Health employs a full-time physician recruiter and is actively expanding this hospital department to further address provider needs in Idaho’s 10 northern counties. This department’s role is to continue to identify areas of need, recruit, and retain providers to our communities. Some specialties, such as neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine, and gastroenterology, are in high-demand nationwide and can be extremely difficult to recruit. For some time now, North Idaho Lung, Asthma and Critical Care has been actively recruiting to meet this known community need, and those efforts are still underway.

Next, we have worked to create different opportunities in our community so there are options for physicians considering working in North Idaho. Sixty percent of the physicians in our community are in private practice. This is a good model for many physicians, however, some physicians, particularly those who are early in their careers, prefer to work for an employer rather than be in private practice. In 2010, Kootenai Health created Kootenai Clinic to employ physicians who prefer an employed practice model over an independent practice model. The result is that today more than 200 physicians and advanced practice providers across 21 different specialties work for Kootenai Clinic. It is good for our community to have both models so we have opportunities for both physicians who want an independent practice and those who want to work for an employer.

Thirdly, primary care is the entryway to all other medical care. Everyone needs access to a primary care provider who can help manage his or her care and make referrals to a specialist when needed. Several years ago Kootenai Health worked proactively with longtime community physician Richard McLandress, M.D., and his colleagues to create a family medicine residency. Each year the residency graduates six new family medicine physicians. Since its inception in 2014 more than 80 percent of each graduating class has stayed to live and practice primary care medicine in our region.

Finally, we recognized that when you are looking for a physician, finding one can be a challenge, especially if you have Medicare or Medicaid. In 2014, Kootenai Clinic opened its appointment center. The center can schedule appointments for 50 primary care providers, including the family medicine residency. Through the appointment center, a person can make one phone call and easily get connected with a physician or advanced practice provider who is accepting new patients.

While the need for providers is great and we certainly have our challenges, we are seeing slow and steady progress in our region. Over the past five years, Kootenai Health has added 304 new physicians and advanced practice providers to its medical staff. In 2019 alone, we have had 67 new providers join our community. You will always see new Kootenai Clinic providers who can accept patients welcomed in ads in the Coeur d’Alene Press, on our social media channels, and in the quarterly Kootenai Health magazine. Hopefully, you will see one soon for pulmonology!

- • •

For a complete list of all Kootenai Clinic and independent physicians and advanced practice providers on the Kootenai Health medical staff, by name and by specialty, visit kh.org. The Kootenai Clinic appointment center can be reached at 208-625-6767.