The Psychiatric Workforce Shortage
May 2021
The current psychiatric workforce shortage is estimated to peak in 2024. Factors contributing to the shortage include an increasing demand for services, the inability of psychiatry residencies to train enough psychiatrists to meet population growth, and the expected rate of retirements among psychiatrists. Further, disparities exist because of the unequal distribution of behavioral health providers in rural areas and because many psychiatrists do not accept health insurance as reimbursement.
The selected articles characterize the psychiatric workforce crisis and explore various solutions to the workforce shortage. Proposed interventions include increasing the number of mental health providers (psychiatrists, advanced practice registered nurses, and other professionals), incorporating innovative models such as collaborative care and Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) to best utilize the existing workforce, and using technology to reach currently underserved populations. Given that workforce shortages differentially impact already underserved populations, these strategies should be broadly implemented in communities facing unequal access to mental health care.
Lisa B. Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.
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The Workforce Crisis
Article
Projected Workforce of Psychiatrists in the United States: A Population AnalysisAnand Satiani, M.D., M.B.A., Julie Niedermier, M.D., Bhagwan Satiani, M.D., M.B.A., Dale P. Svendsen, M.D., M.S.
2018, Volume 69, Issue 6, pp. 710–713
Featured in Psychiatric Services From Pages to Practice.
Commentary
Psychiatric Workforce Now and in the FutureSaul M. Levin, M.D., M.P.A., F.R.C.P.
2018, Volume 69, Issue 6, pp. 714–715
Taking Issue
Taking Action on the Workforce CrisisMichael A. Hoge, Ph.D., and Manuel Paris Jr., Psy.D.
2018, Volume 69, Issue 6, p. 617
Increasing the Number of Behavioral Health Care Providers
Global Mental Health Reforms
Expanding the Mental Health Workforce in China: Narrowing the Mental Health Service GapXinran Hu, M.D., M.P.H., Robert Rohrbaugh, M.D., Qijian Deng, M.D., Ph.D., Qingnan He, M.D., Ph.D., Kelley F. Munger, M.A., Zhening Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
2017, Volume 68, Issue 10, pp. 987–989
Article
Progress in Workforce Development Since 2000: Advanced Training Opportunities in Public and Community PsychiatryWesley Sowers, M.D., David Pollack, M.D., Anita Everett, M.D., Kenneth S. Thompson, M.D., Jules Ranz, M.D., and Annelle Primm, M.D.
2011, Volume 62, Issue 7, pp. 782–788
State Mental Health Policy
Psychiatric Workforce Needs and Recommendations for the Community Mental Health System: A State Needs AssessmentElizabeth Reisinger Walker, Ph.D., M.P.H., Frank W. Berry III, Tod Citron, M.S.W., M.S., Judy Fitzgerald, M.S.W., Mark H. Rapaport, M.D., Bryan Stephens, M.A., M.B.A., Benjamin G. Druss, M.D., M.P.H.
2015, Volume 66, Issue 2, pp. 115–117
Special Article
The Role of Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in Expanding Access to Care and Improving Patient OutcomesLisa W. Goldstone, M.S., Pharm.D., Bethany A. DiPaula, Pharm.D., Amy Werremeyer, Pharm.D., Sheila Botts, Pharm.D., Brian Hepburn, M.D., Howard Y. Liu, M.D., M.B.A., Ken Duckworth, M.D., Alexander S. Young, M.D., M.S.H.S., Deanna L. Kelly, Pharm.D.
Epub ahead of print, May 4, 2021
Open Forum
A Community Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner Fellowship: Preparing Nurse Practitioners for Mental Health Workforce ExpansionKatharine M. Frissora, D.N.P., P.M.H.N.P., and Jules M. Ranz, M.D.
2020, Volume 72, Issue 1, pp. 91–93
Innovative Models of Care
Integrated Care
Large-Scale Dissemination of Collaborative Care and Implications for PsychiatryDavid J. Katzelnick, M.D., and Mark D. Williams, M.D.
2015, Volume 66, Issue 9, pp. 904–906
Integrated Care
Consultative Approaches to Leveraging the Psychiatric Workforce for Larger Populations in Need of Psychiatric ExpertiseLori Raney, M.D., Mark Williams, M.D., Patty Gibson M.D., Tom Salter, M.D.
2020, Volume 71, Issue 10, pp. 1084–1087
Use of Technology
Integrated Care
Leveraging Behavioral Health Expertise: Practices and Potential of the Project ECHO Approach to Virtually Integrating Care in Underserved AreasBrant Hager, M.D., Michael Hasselberg, Ph.D., Eric Arzubi, M.D., Jonathan Betlinski, M.D., Mark Duncan, M.D., Jennifer Richman, M.D., Lori E. Raney, M.D.
2018, Volume 69, Issue 4, pp. 366–369
Also featured in the Integrated Care collection.
Promoting High-Value Mental Health Care
Using Continuous Quality Improvement to Design and Implement a Telepsychiatry Program in Rural IllinoisHossam Mahmoud, M.D., M.P.H., Emily L. Vogt, B.A., Rabih Dahdouh, M.S., Michael Luke Raymond, L.C.P.C.
2020, Volume 71, Issue 8, pp. 860–863
Also featured in the Telepsychiatry and Mental Health Services in Rural Areas collections.
Research, Community, & Services Partnerships
The Michigan Child Collaborative Care Program: Building a Telepsychiatry Consultation ServiceSheila Marcus, M.D., Nasuh Malas, M.D., M.P.H., Richard Dopp, M.D., Joanna Quigley, M.D., Anne C. Kramer, M.S.W., Elizabeth Tengelitsch, M.S.W., Ph.D., Paresh D. Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 9, pp. 849–852
Research, Community, & Services Partnerships
Designing an Academic-Community Telepsychiatry Partnership to Provide Inpatient and Outpatient Services in a Critical Access HospitalRyan J. Kimmel, M.D., Matthew D. Iles-Shih, M.D., M.P.H., Anna Ratzliff, M.D., Ph.D., Cara Towle, R.N., M.S.N.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 8, pp. 744–746
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