As it is now, North Dakota is fairing pretty well when it comes to the general performance of the overall health care system. Health care costs are low be national standards and the number of qualified workers in the industry is satisfactory, but in decline.
It’s no secret that the baby boom from the seventies and increases in life expectancy are creating a huge bubble for the health care industry, but what may not be known is how dire the situation can be. Recent studies suggest that having 250 physicians per 100,000 people is considered adequate. But, many local clinics are experience, more is needed and soon.
“The state of health care in North Dakota is actually pretty good compared to others places,” said Joshua Wynne, dean of School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of North Dakota. “Health care in North Dakota is marked by relatively high quality and relatively low cost. The health care delivery system works reasonably well.”
But, that’s looking at previous statistical data. “Projecting ahead, there’s not going to be enough providers, and it’s going to get worse,” Wynne said.
Dr. Wang at the Craven-Hagen Clinic said that wait times to see a physician have been increasing dramatically. It’s very hard to schedule newborns for their regular examinations due to wait lists, which can be up to three months long.
The biggest problem for the state and for UND is the fact that the university cannot current provide for the number of medical students it’s going to need in the future. Current facilities and funding is not available. To compound the problem is the fact that nearly half of the schools medical students either choose or are forced to have their residency out of state. In almost all cases, out of state residency students stay out of state for the remainder of their career.
The state legislature approved a modest increase to doctoral and medical sciences classes as well as additional medical residencies for UND. But, as the only medical school in the state, that is still well short of a complete solution.
The school is proposing multiple options which include a renovation of current facilities with a small new build project and a large scale, completely new medical center. Whichever course the state chooses, it needs to choose quickly. When you calculate the total time frame of completing the construction project and getting new doctors trained and out the door, you’re looking at a minimum of 8 years for transfer students and longer for in state students.
“Williston can’t wait, other parts of North Dakota can’t wait,” Wynne said. “We want to begin the expansion as soon as the Legislature gives us the OK.”