Physician supply in key medical specialties in West Virginia hospitals, 2001-2004.

This article describes the development, implementation and analysis of an ongoing prospective physician supply survey of the largest acute care hospitals in West Virginia. This survey was designed to assess changes in availability of physicians in key specialties from 2001-2004, a period of years that included a "malpractice insurance crisis." The malpractice crisis in this article describes the period of time in 2001-2002 when medical malpractice insurance rates increased abruptly in West Virginia and a number of physicians publicized their departure from practice in the state.