The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1942-11-30
MEDICAL MANPOWER
From The Journal of the Florida Medical
Association, IncI

Association, Inc.I
In recent weeks much publicity has been given.
not only state but a national SCALE to the
existing shortage of medical care and to the fact
that there is impending still more acute shortage.
Many factors have conspred to bring this issue TO
the fore: among them is the fact that members CT
the medical profession, particularly in Florida,
have gone into the Armed Services in large num-
bers. 1t is probable that have sent as large #
not a larger proportion of doctors into the Army
and Navy than any other state This has naturally
lead to shortage of physicians in many communl-
tics and, in a few people have been left without
any medical care
Under the original procurement and assign
ment registration many physicians expressed them
selves as willing, if the emergency demanded, TO
be moved to areas within the state where their
vices might be needed. In spite of this, there are
some communities, and there will be others, which
are in urgent need of physicians. How these COM
nunities can be supplied with doctors when those
practicng at home working to their full "a
pacity is problem which will have to be solved.
Much criticism has been directed toward med
ical associations, state boards Of medical axamin
ers and others who are interested in this problem
which criticism has been based the false prem
Use that these bodies are obstructing rather than
aiding in the solution of this problem This accu-
sation is certainly far from the truth insofar the
state of Florida is concerned. Arrangements nave
been made whereby doctors can be and are being
mr. Dto y1rhc CHI
and every agency concerned is cooperating to the
fullest extent, recognizing the seriousness of The
emergency.
1t would seem that before such serious charges
and such inaccurate statements are made by those
whose knowledge is not complete, some effort
should be made to determine how far the medical
profession has gone in trying to solve this problem
The War Participation Committee of the Flori-
ola Medical Association has discussed at length ways
and means by which doctors may be encouraged .
move to communities where shortage exists but
there is no machinery by which such moves can be
made compulsory and, as previously stated physi--
clans reluctant to move voluntarily. great
deal of thought has been given this matter by the
members of our committee, and they are exerting
themselves strenuously in an endeavor to accom-
plish the desired end.
The State Defense Council has passed resolu-
ton whereby it is possible. request of the Coun-
Gil and with the approval of the Board Of Cover
norS of the Florida Medical Association for doctors
in the United States Public Health Service to be
assigned to communities where no medical care ex-
lists. In such communities the people receiving
care who financially able to do so, will be re-
CURED to pay fees in accordance with the usual
charges for such services in their particular area
This arrangement is very important inaSmuch as
in the first place it will not pauperize the people
and, in the second place, it will allow physician
to go into community and engage in the practice
of medicine normal, competitive basis This
provision will be automatically terminated at the
end of he emergency by reason of the fact that the
law constituting the State Defense Council pro-
vides that that body shall be discontinued at The
end of the emergqney<y ------s u8
Arrangements have also been made whereby
at the request of county medical society certain
doctors may be allowed to practice for the duration
of the emergency under the supervision of the Chief
qof Emergency Medical Service and by special per-
mission of the State Board of Medical Examiners.
This arrangement, too, ends with the termination
of the emergency.