Severe doctor shortage hits Central TX

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Central Texas hospitals report a severe doctor shortage.

A new study by the Seton Family of Hospitals shows one out of every 10 Medicare patients has a hard time finding a primary-care doctor. The survey found one in four Central Texans believe there are not enough doctors in the area.

The most frequent problems are doctors not taking on new patients and insurance. Of uninsured people, 19 percent report going to the emergency room for basic care.

"In fact, Williamson and Hays counties are considered by the Feds to be underserved counties in the ratio of physicians to population," said Charles Barnett, Seton Family of Hospitals president and CEO. "As those counties continue to grow, that problem will become worse."

Seton officials said they expect to see a need for 3,000 more physicians by the year 2020, and they are already trying to lure them in with better graduate and residency programs.