by Valerie Bauman, Associated Press http://www.sfgate.com (02-24) 04:00 PST Saranac Lake , N.Y. — In secluded corners of upstate New York and impoverished neighborhoods around New York City, the sick are less likely to see a doctor. Hours from a big city, and a helicopter ride away from certain specialized medical treatments, Adirondack Medical Center […]

By Natasha Lee http://www.stamfordadvocate.com The supply of primary care physicians is not keeping up with demand, which could be the start of a serious shortage, doctors and health advocates say. The gap is caused by retirements, better working hours and increased interest in specialty fields such as radiology and dermatology that offer higher salaries, health […]

by Portland Business Journal http://www.bizjournals.com Northwest Physicians Insurance Co., one of Oregon’s largest medical liability carriers, is offering discounts to doctors that use computerized personal health records and e-mail to communicate with patients. Depending upon medical specialty, the discounts range from $375 to $2,250 annually. That’s potentially greater than the cost of the secure e-mail […]

By TRACY X. MIGUEL http://www.naplesnews.com Ancema Uriostegui holds Jesus, 1, on her lap as she waits in a lobby area about the size of a bus. The other eight chairs — worn, green and made of wood — are filled with other parents and children waiting to see Dr. V. Laughter fills the pediatrician’s colorful […]

by News-Democrat & Leader http://www.newsdemocratleader.com The Patient Physician Partnership was announced at a press conference in the state capitol as an effort by the Kentucky Medical Association and its partners to address the state’s physician workforce shortage and its negative effects on the healthcare delivery system. The genesis for the Partnership was the recently released […]

by Janie Har http://www.oregonlive.com Legislature – Oregon’s low limits will not be fixed in the current special session — Lawmakers will not deal with Oregon’s low liability limits this session and instead moved Wednesday to create a task force to recommend ways to try to fix the problem in time for the 2009 session. Senate […]

by Greg Edwards http://www.inrich.com Three Tennessee-based malpractice insurers have lost their bid to advance their claims against a Richmond-based reinsurer, Reciprocal of America. Reciprocal of America was placed in receivership in January 2003, and the State Corporation Commission ordered the company liquidated later that year. The reinsurer wrote hospital liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and […]

By Raymond A. Martinez http://www.mvariety.com SENATOR Henry H. San Nicolas introduced yesterday a bill, S.B. 16-18, to require medical doctors to get malpractice insurance. San Nicolas, Covenant-Tinian, said when patients suffer medical-related injuries, the government ends up shouldering the liability.

by Katie Morse http://news10now.com POTSDAM, NY — Doctors at Canton-Potsdam and other North Country hospitals are treating more and more patients who have no primary care physician. The reason is there are simply not enough doctors in the area to treat everyone. “From talking to other hospital administrators across the North Country, we’re all facing […]