US to be facing a shortage of Heart Surgeons
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
July 28, 2009 11:02am CST
That is scary. When a lot of us are getting older, (I'm a baby boomer) to hear that heart surgeons are going to be scarce is not a good thing. The article linked here says "...the demand for cardiothoracic surgeons could rise by 46 percent by 2025, they predict, while the supply will likely fall by 21 percent over the same period as today's senior surgeons retire and newer surgeons increasingly opt for other specialties." Wow! Apparently, stents are the new thing which is done by cardiologists, not heart surgeons, and bypass surgery is down. Interesting read.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56Q5CV20090727?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
4 responses
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
28 Jul 09
That is scary. However the field of cardiovascular surgery is changing for the better. A few months ago former First Lady Barbara Bush had open heart surgery to replace a valve. If she had been able to wait a couple of months she would have been able to have the same thing done in a newer less invasive way. That's progress. But for those like you and me we have to wonder what will be changing in health care. Not only will there be fewer heart surgeons but there are not enough general practice doctors or geriatric specialists. No body seems to want to take care of us old folks. LOL!
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
28 Jul 09
That is scary. HOpefully some people will be brave to pursue that career. It is something that is hard. You have to go through years of schooling. And just think this person is responsible for another persons life. Thats one reason why some people can't bear the thought of it.
