July 10, 2009 — George F. Sheldon, MD, FACS, Director of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Health Policy Research Institute and Zack D. Owens Distinguished Professor of Surgery and professor of social medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, testified on behalf of the ACS at a July 8 House Committee on Small Business hearing.
The focus of the hearing was “The Looming Challenge for Small Medical Practices: The Future Physician Shortage and How Health Care Reforms Can Address the Problem.” In his testimony, Dr. Sheldon, a Past-President of the College, spoke about the growing surgical workforce crisis in general surgery and other specialties as well. Dr. Sheldon expressed support for the problems faced by primary care but also stated opposition to proposals that would promote primary care at the expense of surgery. Dr. Sheldon also discussed the particularly troubling implications that such policies could have on already existing shortages – particularly for the delivery of care in rural hospitals and trauma centers. Dr. Sheldon’s testimony is available on YouTube.