Evolving State Abortion Laws Could Have an Unforeseen Impact on Urgent Care

Regardless of one’s personal perspective on the move by some states to restrict access to abortions, there is a very real concern that such legislation could ultimately worsen provider shortages. As reported by MedPage Today, new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges show that already-declining numbers of medical-school graduates applying for positions are falling faster in states that have enacted legislation restricting abortions. The dip is especially precipitous in obstetrics and gynecology, as applications were down 5.2% in 2022-23 vs 2021-22 across the country but fell 10.5% in those 13 states. The ripple effect could mean even greater problems down the road, according to the article, as more than half of residency graduates ultimately practice in the states in which they trained. This is significant for urgent care in that women with fewer Ob/Gyns to choose from will still need care, especially during pregnancy. To get a sense of your urgent care center’s readiness to treat patients who are pregnant, read  When Pregnant Patients Present to the Urgent Care Center in the JUCM archive.