Filling Idaho's Healthcare Gaps: Doctors Say Fixing Shortfalls Requires More Residencies, Training Programs, Continuing Education

Northwest Public Broadcasting (WA) (12/13/23) Sun, Rachel

Idaho has among the fastest-growing populations in the United States, but the state ranks lowest in the nation in terms of physicians per capita — and the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. A research program from the University of Washington is working to counter that shortage. The WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) program has a research arm through the University of Idaho, where it partners to train medical students. According to Russell Baker, associate director of medical research at WWAMI Idaho, the three top barriers to Idaho providers' ability to care for patients — as identified in a survey of urban and rural providers — are the complexity of patient cases, service access and resource limitations. Baker noted that boosting the healthcare workforce in the state will require the retention of existing providers and education of more medical professionals to work in Idaho. Access to training is key. A Project ECHO program offered through WWAMI Idaho provides training for continuing education on topics such as buprenorphine administration. While physicians previously were required to complete training to administer the drug for substance use disorder, the federal government has lifted that requirement. However, Baker said, "Our research, pre and post that change, still indicated that one of, if not the top, barrier for providers using that, is lack of confidence or lack of knowledge to provide it. We can step in and help." He noted offering physicians training to help address the issues they see in their communities may also help retain the medical workforce. "One of the things that leads people to leave is that they have these challenges and they don't know how to address them," Baker said. Others stress the importance of building up the infrastructure, so there are enough doctors to train students and residents as well as an investment from the state and the healthcare systems there.

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