Garcia introduces bill to bring residency program
Designed to increase the number of physicians who practice in Imperial County, Assembly Bill 893 passed in committee session Tuesday.
The bill was authored by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-56th) and passed by a vote of 14-0 with one abstention. Garcia hopes the bill will go before the full Assembly early next week.
“It basically establishes a framework to have a residency program for medical students about to become doctors through the UC system here in Imperial County,” he explained. As of now, six out of nine California regions face a critical shortage of primary care providers, recently noted the California Medical Association. AB 893 would therefore empower The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to collect data from local health agencies (county health department), physician groups, professional and educational associations.
This information will determine the number of graduate medical education slots required to meet the needs of medically underserved areas such as Imperial County. Presently, Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District is the largest health care service provider for residents of Imperial County and any within that service area are Medi-Cal recipients. As a result, PMHD is at a disadvantage to compete for physicians on staff.
At present there is a ratio of approximately one physician to every 9,000 residents, noted Garcia. He indicated the county would like to approach a ratio closer of one physician for every 2,000 residents.
“Half of all Californian residents live in a community without adequate access to health care services and we must do more to alleviate health disparities in our rural communities,” said Garcia. “AB 893 aims to assist the severe physician shortage in Imperial County where many live below the federal poverty level. We hope this legislation will prompt further investment into areas of need.”
Not only is it difficult to attract physicians but it is a challenge to persuade other professionals to relocate to rural areas remarked Frank Salazar, PMHD director of marketing and public affairs.
“We’d especially like to attract more specialists, but the coastal areas don’t have the same challenges,” said Salazar. “And we’re proud the California Medical Association and the Association of California Healthcare Districts have come out in support of this bill.”