Implications of a nephrology workforce shortage for dialysis patient care

Abstract

Recent dramatic decreases in US medical graduate and International Medical Graduate interest in nephrology as a career suggest that delivery of care to the vulnerable population of dialysis patients in the United States could be negatively affected in coming years. Demographic shifts and changes to national health policy are also likely to exacerbate challenges to provide adequate care to people on dialysis or at risk of end-stage renal disease. Training an adequate number of nephrologists is imperative and will require both reconfiguring current approaches to training and certain aspects of care delivery as well as highlighting bright spots of innovation within the field of nephrology.