Inland Empire Increases Residencies Amid Statewide Doctor Shortage

Some California counties -- such as those in the Inland Empire region -- are working to address a growing shortage of physicians by increasing medical residency opportunities, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.

In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, there are about 40 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents -- far below the recommended ratio of 60 to 80 primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents.

Details of Increasing Residency Slots

In an effort to address the shortage, at least 170 new residencies have been created over the past two years in the two-county region, and additional slots are expected to be established in the future, according to the Press-Enterprise.

Most of the new residency slots are at medical schools and teaching hospitals, including:

• Loma Linda University;
• Riverside County Regional Medical Center;
• UC-Riverside School of Medicine; and
• Western University in Pomona.

Local health officials say that medical residents are more likely to remain in the area. In addition, new residencies require more physicians to educate the medical students, which also brings more medical staff to the area, the Press-Enterprise reports (Muckenfuss, Riverside Press Enterprise, 8/9).