The case of the disappearing generalist: does it need to be solved?

Abstract

The proportion of generalist physicians in the United States has declined steadily over 50 years, bringing it to the lowest percentage of trained primary care physicians of any developed country; the trend toward subspecialization is accelerating. Many analysts believe this imbalance between generalists and subspecialists to be a major cause of America's high health care costs, heavy dependence on biotechnology, and consumer dissatisfaction. Others argue that sub-specialists can provide excellent primary care services, and the decrease in the number of generalists is not a problem. Three contrasting views on the implications of this trend state that today's generalists are an important and scarce resource that must be bolstered; that subspecialists can replace generalists as providers of primary care; and that the free market will determine the best manpower mix. A final view, on the marketplace option, posits that generalism will not recover until it creates a vital, and unique, role in handling the primary care challenges of the twenty-first century. These competing viewpoints are used to clarify assumptions underlying our major policy options in the arena of health manpower.