Axios

Nearly 80% of U.S. counties do not have a single infectious diseases physician, and shortages of other ID health care professionals persist.

The House and Senate Appropriations committees must fund the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program.

A Strong, Dynamic ID Workforce

ID health care professionals are needed now more than ever to care for patients with serious infections (including HIV, viral hepatitis, antimicrobial-resistant infections and infections related to opioid use); prevent and manage infectious complications of complex care like cancer chemotherapy, organ transplants and other surgeries; and prepare for future public health emergencies. ID expertise improves patient outcomes and reduces health care costs. Despite the critical role ID professionals play across the health care spectrum, ID physicians are in short supply. This is due in part to the significant medical student debt that poses a barrier to entering the ID workforce.

There is broad bipartisan support for the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program in Congress. In recognition of ID experts’ critical contributions to public health, the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.

Fast Facts About the ID Workforce

ID physicians are in short supply in much of the United States — particularly rural areas;
Only 56% of ID training programs in the United States filled in the most recent National Residency Matching Program, while most other specialties filled all or nearly all their programs;
Attracting the next generation of physicians to work in ID is sorely needed because physicians over the age of 55 make up a substantial portion of the current ID workforce;
Lower salaries for ID physicians, combined with medical school debt, have hindered recruitment;
A 2019 survey showed a vacancy rate of clinical microbiologists of more than 10%, which worsened during the pandemic;
Twenty-five percent of health care facilities have reported a vacant infection preventionist position, with more than half of long-term care facilities having an infection preventionist leave in the last two years. Infection preventionists often have a nursing background.

Now, the House and Senate Appropriations committees must fund the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program.

More than 140 organizations urge $50 million for the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program

Senators urge $50 million for the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program

Thirty-one bipartisan representatives urge $50 million for the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program