The United States is currently facing an unprecedented and largely unrecognized shortage of physicians trained to provide pulmonary and critical care services.

As described in the published journal articles referenced on this page, and now, in the newly released US Department of Health and Human Services Report to Congress: The Critical Care Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand for Critical Care Physicians, the future demand for critical care services in the United States will exceed the capabilities of the current delivery system. The most alarming problem is that the anticipated shortage of health-care professionals practicing critical care has already begun. Learn more about the critical care workforce shortage, and download talking points on the HRSA Report.

The following articles are available for your review:

HRSA Report May 2006:
US Department of Health and Human Services; Health Resources and Services Administration. Report to Congress. The Critical Care Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand for Critical Care Physicians. Requested by: Senate Report 108-81.

The release of HRSA Report on the Pulmonary and Critical Care Workforce Shortage

We have made tools available to facilitate meeting and calling your legislators and health legislative aides specific to the release of the US Department of Health and Human Services Report to Congress: The Critical Care Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand for Critical Care Physicians.

• Download the background piece on the release of the HRSA Report.
• Download the talking points on the release of the HRSA Report.
• Download a phone script that will facilitate a discussion with your legislator or legislative health aide.
• Download a sample letter to send to your legislator about the release of the HRSA Report.
• Download a sample letter to fax to your legislator’s home office to request an appointment to discuss the release of the HRSA report.
• Download the ACCP press release on the release of the HRSA Report.

COMPACCS Study:
Angus DC, Kelley MA, Schmitz RJ, White A, Popovich J, for the Committee on Manpower for Pulmonary and Critical Care Soceities. Current and Projected Workforce Requirements for Care of the Critically Ill and Patients with Pulmonary Disease: Can We Meet the Requirements of an Aging Population? JAMA 2000; 284: 2762-2770.

FOCCUS Report:
Kelley MA, Angus D, Chalfin DB, Edward D, Ingbar D, Johanson W, Medine J, Sessler CN, Vender JS. The Critical Care Crisis in the United States: A Report From the Profession. CHEST 2004 125: 1514-1527.

Call for Federal Action:
Ewart GW, Marcus L, Gaba MM, Bradner RH, Medine JL, Chandler EB. The Critical care Medicine Crisis: A Call for Federal Action. CHEST 2004; 125: 1518-1521.

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