Massachusetts Has A Shortage of Medical Specialists

Massachusetts faces a shortage of doctors in key specialties from family medicine to general surgery. That's one of the findings of a new report by the Massachusetts Medical Society. The study found the state is struggling to recruit enough physicians to work at community hospitals and in areas of the state outside Boston. The study also found more doctors are willing to participate in the state's push to overhaul the health care payment system, including initiatives like 'accountable care organizations' and 'global payments.'

The initiatives are designed to help doctors and hospitals move away from a ``fee for service'' model to one that rewards them for keeping patients healthy. Both are part of a health care bill signed by Gov. Deval Patrick this year.