Where have all the general internists gone?

Background: A shortage of primary care physicians is expected, due in part to decreasing numbers of physicians entering general internal medicine (GIM). Practicing general internists may contribute to the shortage by leaving internal medicine (IM) for other careers in and out of medicine.

Objective: To better understand mid-career attrition in IM.

Who is maintaining certification in internal medicine--and why? A national survey 10 years after initial certification.

Background: The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) adopted a framework, called Maintenance of Certification (MOC), for all certifying boards to evaluate physicians' competence throughout their careers, with the goal of improving the quality of health care. The MOC participation rates of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) show that 23% of general internists and 14% of subspecialists choose not to renew their respective certificates.

Objective: To study U.

Career plans for trainees in internal medicine residency programs.

Purpose: Fewer medical students are pursuing residency training in primary care disciplines. This report describes the career plans of residents enrolled in internal medicine training programs and their reasons for pursuing either generalist or subspecialist career paths.

Method: From 1998 to 2003, questionnaires were administered to residents participating in the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination.