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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Physician Workforce Development

Florida Department of Health

Physician Workforce Advisory Council (PWAC)

Pursuant to section 381.4018, Florida Statutes, the Department’s Primary Care Office staff supports the efforts of the PWAC in assessing the state’s current and future physician workforce needs and developing strategies to address current and projected physician workforce needs.

The PWAC is comprised of 19 members appointed by the State Surgeon General and representing various educational and professional association stakeholders, the PWAC:

  • Monitors, evaluates, and reports on the supply and distribution of physicians licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459.
  • Develops and recommends strategies to determine whether the number of qualified medical school applicants who might be practicing physicians in this state will be sufficient to meet the capacity of the state’s medical schools.
  • Explores strategies and policies to create, expand, and maintain graduate medical education positions in the state based on the analysis of the physician workforce data particularly in rural areas having a shortage of physicians and areas of ongoing critical need.
  • Develops strategies to maximize federal and state programs that provide for the use of incentives to attract physicians to this state and retain physicians within the state.

Resources:

PWAC Meetings

Physician Workforce Annual Reports (PWAR)

The Department collects information on Florida's physician workforce from the Physician Workforce Survey which is required as part of the medical license renewal process every two years. The survey data results, along with guidance from the PWAC, support the production of the PWAR.

The PWAR summarizes and details the distribution and composition of Florida's physician workforce and serves to guide strategies that prepare the state for future health care delivery with a diverse, well-trained, and geographically distributed workforce.

  • During the 2020–21 survey cycle, there were 89,396 physicians who possessed a license that allowed them to practice in Florida.
  • Of these physicians, 77,631 renewed their medical license during 2020 and 2021 and responded to the workforce survey.
  • Of the physicians renewing their medical license, 55,809 (71.9%) indicated they are providing direct patient care in Florida.

Reports:

Resources:

The Graduate Medical Education (GME) Statewide Medicaid Residency Program consists of $97.3 million used to provide funding to qualified participating hospitals involved in graduate medical education.  Additionally, the GME Startup Bonus Program provides $100 million dollars to qualifying hospitals with newly approved residency positions in the statewide supply-and-demand deficit specialties.

 

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