Nursing home practice among recent family medicine residency graduates

As the US population ages, nursing homes need more care providers. However, family physicians are narrowing their scope of practice. Characterizing family medicine practice patterns is essential for educational and workforce planning related to nursing home practice. We analyzed a survey of 1,506 family medicine residency graduates from the Pacific Northwest between 1997 and 2009, examining whether they practiced in nursing homes and felt prepared for this practice. Nursing home practice among recent family medicine residency graduates declined from 61.4% in 1997 to 25.9% in 2009, despite no change in perceived level of preparedness for this practice. The Pacific Northwest has experienced a significant decline in nursing home practice among recent family medicine residency graduates. Further research is needed to elucidate the reasons for this workforce change and to plan for the increased need in nursing home providers.