Leading Question

The mounting 65-and-over population, large numbers of uninsured and under-insured residents, and high malpractice insurance costs contribute to what Margaret Eadington, executive director of the Collier County Medical Society, describes as “not a particularly healthy environment for physicians.”

“Because of the regulations of the state of Florida and the litigious nature of the state of Florida, it’s not an attractive location for new physicians,” agrees Kevin Newingham, corporate director of planning and strategy for Lee Memorial Health System.

Add to that doctors who are retiring or leaving the area and the result is a need for physicians to fill those spots and accommodate the expected need over the next three to five years.

“It’s a bit of a revolving door,” Eadington says.

The average age of physicians in Florida is about 50. Although physicians don’t necessarily plan on retiring soon after they turn 52, some change their practices—reducing the number of surgeries, handling fewer emergency-room calls or limiting the type of cases they’ll see to minimize their financial risk, Newingham says.

“All of that reduces access to physicians,” he says. “Just that, in and of itself, creates a physician shortage.”

A joint study by the Lee County Medical Society and Lee Memorial Health System found a combined need for 409 more physicians in the next five years, compared with 225 physicians when a similar study was conducted in fall 2004. Factors include the population growth (although Newingham acknowledges those figures have leveled off), aging physicians and the increase in Southwest Florida’s 65-and-older population.

“They use medical services a lot more,” says Dr. Jonathan M. Frantz, medical director at Fort Myers-based Florida Eye Health. “There’s going to be an explosion in terms of the services that are needed.”