Public Policy & Advocacy

Dear Fellow Internists,

As you know, I have been appointed to Senator Baucus' Healthcare Advisory Council. This council is to help Senator Baucus and staff members understand our current dysfunctional healthcare system and make recommendations for reform.

I have been a practicing general internist for the past 18 years; I know and understand the factors leading to primary care collapse and general internist extinction. I am your advocate. If you have suggestions or concerns, please let me know.

Last spring I conducted a survey to get a sense of the state of Montana internists. This is the result:

  • 128 physicians practice outpatient general internal medicine
  • 77 employed by hospitals, average years in practice 16
  • 24 employed by multi-special groups, average years in practice 15
  • 27 in practices of 1-6, average years in practice 19

Of 128 outpatient general internal medicine physicians:

  • 65% are male and 35% are female
  • 23% have practiced for 25 or more years
  • 33% have practiced 15-24 years
  • 33%% have practiced 6-14 years
  • 11% have practiced for 5 or less years

Billings has 37 outpatient general internal medicine physicians. Every other Montana community has less than 12 outpatient general internal medicine physicians

Other statistics:

  • 35 internal medicine hospitalists
  • 13 internal medicine VA physicians

Less than 10% of internal medicine residents plan to pursue a career in general internal medicine. A recent survey of 1177 graduating medical students found that only 2% plan to pursue a career in general internal medicine. Dissuading factors to pursue general internal medicine include student debt, income, paperwork, and too much information to learn.

My contact information:
Jay Larson, MD, FACP
301 Saddle Drive
Helena, MT 59601

I look forward to hearing from you.

Cordially,
Jay Larson

Page updated: 10/16/08

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Contact Information

Jim A. Yturri, MD, FACP
Governor, Montana Chapter

Carrie Reisig
Montana Chapter
Executive Director
Phone: 406-727-7171 ext 205
Email: creisig@bresnan.net