The Committee on Academic and Workforce Success met on October 26, 2022 to discuss a number of items. This report covers the following agenda items: consideration and possible action to adopt the “Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Program Report” and consideration and possible action to adopt the “Graduate Medical Education Report: An Assessment of Opportunities for Graduates of Texas Medical Schools to Enter Residency Programs in Texas.” The agenda for this hearing can be found here.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Committee Members
Donna N. Williams
Sam Torn
Richard L. Clemmer
Dr. Fred Farias
Emma W. Schwartz
Daniel O. Wong
Georgia Blackwell
- On the non-rule consent calendar; motion to adopt report passes
Item 5E. Consideration and possible action to adopt the ” Graduate Medical Education Report: An Assessment of Opportunities for Graduates of Texas Medical Schools to Enter Residency Programs in Texas “ (Texas Education Code, Section 61.0661 (b)) (Presentation here)
Elizabeth Bear Presenting
- Studies completed every year; comparison of residency positions available and graduating medical students
- Includes physicians educated and trained in state and other states and countries; appealing locations for positions to practice; 2010-2022 patient care physicians practicing increased 38%
- 16 medical schools offer MD or DO, increase in enrollments by 73% through 2002-2021; 2012-2021 30% increase in graduates from Texas medical schools
- Have a high graduation rate
- Opportunities limited to number of residency positions that accept first year residents; not available in all medical specialties; depends on resources of sponsoring institutions
- Goal of 1.1:1 ratio for graduates to residency programs; not enough funding to ensure all Texas medical school graduates have a place in Texas; goal will not be met
- Residency positions created by residency programs; can add positions and new residency programs
- Farias – Residency programs have become a very competitive environment; need to ensure quality and opportunities
- Wilson – Might be beneficial to ask medical schools to report to the board degree of difficulty on finding Texas residency spots; state still pays for half of residency cost?
- Programs receive formula funding and some also receive GME expansion funds; some specialties are very expensive
- Farias – Went to visit school and have checked in with the schools; want to make sure that people are following what they say they are going to do and check in to see how we can work with the legislature on funding
- Blackwell – Certain rule that a specific percentage of residents have to be Texas residents in these programs?
- No
- Farias – Pretty much left up to the institutions
- Wilson – Any insight we can provide for recommendations to the legislature regarding variable type funding?
- Farias – Funding is always an issue
- Motion to adopt report passes