Schakowsky, Cantor Seek To Improve Critical Care Access

Press Release

Current models indicate that a sizeable shortage of critical care physicians (intensivists) will exist in the United States until 2020 if swift action is not taken. Today, Reps. Jan Schakowsky, and Eric Cantor, R-VA, partnered to address the looming crisis by introducing the Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act.

"Ensuring that all Americans, young and old, have access to quality, affordable health care grows more and more urgent every day. The shortage of critical care physicians that we will face if we do not act would be a catastrophe for patients who rely on emergency rooms and ICUs," said Rep. Schakowsky, who has made improving health care access a top priority.

The Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act would improve the critical care services immediately available and expand the pool of critical care providers. Critical care physicians provide care for the sickest patients in hospitals across the country. Although this is a relatively new and growing field of medicine, the rapidly rising elderly population is significantly outpacing intensivists entering the work force.

This legislation calls for a review of "best practices" for critical care medicine and authorizes demonstration projects to improve care and efficiency in ICU services, family-centered services, and multi-disciplinary medical practices. The review will improve the quality of care delivered and make the best use of existing resources.

Within the next decade, the proportion of ICU patients receiving care from a critical care physician is expected to increase from one third to two thirds. If current trends go unchecked, patient demand will exceed physician supply by 129 percent, leaving many in need without the care they deserve.

The Schakowsky-Cantor bill expands telemedicine opportunities for rural communities and medically-underserved areas, where the shortage of critical care physicians is likely to be the great. Finally, in an effort to address the supply problem, this legislation would allow the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to support and encourage critical care providers to practice in medically-underserved areas.

"We have been given enough warning to intervene before the physician shortage reaches critical levels," said Rep. Schakowsky. "It is my hope that my colleagues in Congress will heed this warning and take action by passing this important, bipartisan legislation."

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