Health Crisis: Shortage of Medical Assistants in MV Hits Physicians Hard
Strained Healthcare Settings in MV: Insufficient Medical Assistants Persist - Strained by a deficit of healthcare staff, medical institutions across MV struggle to deliver quality care
Troubled times are brewing for doctors in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as the sector grapples with a significant shortage of medical assistants (MFAs). The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (KVMV) has expressed concerns over this issue.
By mid-last year, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern had 6,422 MFAs working in practices, according to the Association of Medical Professions (VMF). However, the VMF President Hannelore König reckons the trend is far from promising. "The number of trainees has been dwindling since 2021," sad König.
The issue is aggravated by high attrition rates, with many MFAs leaving the profession due to factors like low pay relative to their responsibilities and the daily stress of the job compared to other health professions.
Physicians in the region are vocal about the escalating problems they face. "As of yet, we don't have accurate figures, but our members report escalating trouble finding staff. We anticipate the situation to worsen in the foreseeable future," says spokesperson Grit Büttner from the KVMV.
The KVMV pins the shortage on demographic change rather than the profession's appeal. Despite the respectability of the profession, trained MFAs are often poached by other sectors due to their versatility and extensive knowledge. This leaves medical practices competing with hospitals, health insurance companies, and rehabilitation service providers.
König believes the shortage will grow in the near future, "with the baby boomers retiring and the increased need for MFAs to relieve doctors."
Eliminating unfair competition could help alleviate the MFA shortage, particularly in larger cities and areas near clinics, according to König. The VMF has been instrumental in securing substantial salary increases for MFAs in recent years, yet the wage gap with comparable professions remains considerable.
To tackle the issue, the KVMV prioritizes an increase in training places for MFAs and has launched a campaign promoting MFA training. As in nursing, increased wages should mirror the responsibility for patients, says the VMF President.
- Healthcare Crisis
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
- Schwerin
In addition to this, general healthcare workforce shortages are a common problem, affecting regions like Germany, due to aging populations and increased healthcare needs [1]. Lack of training programs and economic factors can further aggravate the issue. To address the situation, expanded educational offerings, incentives for healthcare professionals to work in underserved areas, and government support are essential strategies [2].
In light of the escalating shortage of Medical Assistants (MFAs) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVMV) has proposed an increased number of training places for MFAs and launched a campaign to promote vocational training, aiming to tackle the crisis in a holistic manner. Additionally, considering the growing prominence of healthcare workforce shortages in regions like Germany, related to aging populations and increased healthcare needs, it's crucial to implement expanded educational offerings, incentives for healthcare professionals to work in underserved areas, and government support as vital strategies to manage the situation. [1] Science-based research on health and wellness [2] Policies focused on medical professions and health-and-wellness initiatives in cities like Schwerin.
