The 1999 fill rate was 82.6 percent. 1999 numbers also reflect a decrease in other primary care programs in total positions filled and those filled with U.S. seniors. There is reason to believe that more of next year's fourth-year students will pursue family medicine. Copeland believes that recently, medical students have received mixed messages about the stability of managed care and with it, primary care. Stories are claiming that managed care is a fad and will fade, ending the need for primary care physicians.
Research shows the opposite.
Students also are receiving the message from some professors that primary care soon will be handled by nurse practitioners and other midlevel providers, Copeland said. Students are told that positions will be available in the subspecialties because that is where the patients will be. That's not necessarily so. Our members are constantly telling us how they are being overwhelmingly recruited for available jobs. Therefore, the AAFP will remain committed to ensuring that medical students receive as many opportunities as possible to fully understand what the practice of family medicine truly represents.