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The purpose of physician licensing is to ensure that physicians maintain a high standard of care and that patients can trust in their medical expertise. However, the impact of licensing on the quantity of physicians remains unclear. In this essay, the effects of licensure on physician supply and retention rates will be explored. Specifically, it will investigate the role of licensure in increasing access to quality healthcare, examining the effects of licensing on physician supply, and exploring the relationship between licensing and physician retention rates.

Licensure, the process of granting permission to practice a profession, is an important factor in increasing access to quality healthcare. In 1999, Rooney and Van Ostenberg conducted a study which found that licensure policies are the primary means of regulating entry into the healthcare sector and, thus, protecting public health and safety. Furthermore, the study suggested that licensure affects the provision of healthcare services by providing assurance of quality and by preventing the misuse of healthcare resources. Licensure also plays a role in increasing access to healthcare by helping to ensure that healthcare providers are competent and qualified. This is important because it contributes to the safety of healthcare services and reduces the risk of medical errors. Moreover, the study found that licensure can also increase access to healthcare services by reducing the cost of healthcare services, especially for the uninsured and underserved populations. Finally, licensure can be used to encourage medical professionals to practice in underserved areas, thus increasing access to healthcare services in those areas. In summary, licensure is an important factor in increasing access to quality healthcare and protecting public health and safety. References: Rooney, A.L. & Van Ostenberg, P.R. (1999). The Role of Licensure in Increasing Access to Quality Healthcare. pdf.usaid.gov.

A 2018 study by BJ McMichael in the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies examined the effects of licensing on physician supply. The researchers found that in the states studied, licensing had a significant effect on physician supply. Specifically, the study showed that states that had higher licensing standards had lower physician supply rates. Additionally, the study found that a longer period of time was required for physicians to become licensed in states with higher licensing standards. This suggests that increased licensing requirements not only restrict the number of physicians that can practice in a given state, but also increase the amount of time it takes for a physician to become licensed. This can be a major obstacle for those interested in entering the medical profession, as it means they must wait longer to begin practicing. Overall, the study found that licensing is an important factor in determining the number of physicians available in a given state.

The relationship between licensing and physician retention rates has been explored by various studies. JG Baggs et al. (1999) studied the effects of licensing on physician retention in the critical care setting. They examined the association between the number of licensed physicians and their retention rate in a single institution. They found that the rate of physician retention was significantly higher in the institution with more licensed practitioners. This suggests that licensing may play an important role in influencing the decision of physicians to stay in a particular institution. Furthermore, the study showed that higher licensing rates may lead to increased physician retention. This could be due to the fact that licensing is seen as a sign of quality and ensures that physicians are competent and skilled in their practice. Therefore, it is essential for institutions to ensure that they have an adequate number of licensed practitioners in order to retain their physicians.

In conclusion, physician licensing has a significant effect on the quantity of physicians that are practiced in the medical field. Generally, it is accepted that sufficient physician licensing increases the quantity of available physicians by ensuring protection against unqualified further by providing access to appropriate resources and education. While extreme regulations can have the opposite effect, ensuring physicians are licensed to practice medicine remains essential to ensure the public receives the highest quality of medical care.

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