Struggling to Keep Up: Shortage of Medical Assistants in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Medical Practices
Scarce number of medical assistants found in MV's healthcare sector - Healthcare facilities in MV face a scarcity of healthcare workers
Let's face it, the health sector in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is feeling the squeeze, and it's all about the shortage of Medical Assistants (MFAs). Some physicians have voiced their concerns, and rightfully so, according to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (KVMV).
As of mid-last year, there were 6,422 MFAs working in practices across Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. However, the situation isn't rosy, as the number of trainees has been on a downward spiral since 2021, says the Association of Medical Professions (VMF) President, Hannelore König.
Adding salt to the wound, many MFAs are throwing in the towel due to poor pay—their salary doesn't match the responsibility they shoulder, daily stress, and the salaries of other comparable health professions, laments König.
Physicians are shouting from the rooftops about their recruitment woes. Grit Büttner of KVMV admits they don't have data on unfilled MFA positions in medical practices, but their members are screamin' loud and clear about the increasing recruitment troubles. They think the situation will only worsen in the future.
The KVMV attributes the shortage to demographic changes rather than the charm of the MFA profession. The profession enjoys a reputation and offers versatility, extensive knowledge, leading poachers to snatch MFAs for other sectors, causing competition between medical practices, hospitals, health insurance companies, and healing service providers.
Adding to the doom and gloom, VMF President Hannelore König foresees an even more severe shortage in the near future. The baby boomer generation will be retiring, and the need for more MFAs will increase to relieve doctors.
The race to snag MFAs heats up in larger cities and the vicinity of clinics. Eliminating competition distortion between medical practices and clinics could help alleviate the shortage, believes König.
The VMF has wrangled some wage increases for MFAs in recent years, but the gap between MFAs and other comparable professions remains cavernous. MFAs receive the same training duration as nursing professionals and shoulder a similarly high responsibility for patients, according to the VMF President.
To put an end to the MFA shortage, the KVMV is primarily advocating for an increase in training places for MFAs and has launched a campaign to promote MFA training.
- Medical Practice
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
- Schwerin
On the Horizon:
The MFA shortage in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern isn't a standalone issue; it's part of a broader trend of personnel shortages in healthcare across Germany, including nursing shortages in long-term care facilities. Strategies to address these shortages include:
- Enhanced Training: Fortifying training programs for medical assistants could help increase the workforce.
- International Recruitment: Attracting qualified healthcare professionals from abroad can bridge the gaps.
- Improved Working Conditions: Better pay, work-life balance opportunities, enhanced benefits, and clearer career progression paths could make these roles more attractive.
- Embracing Technology: Integrating digital tools and automation can optimize workflows and reduce workloads.
- Collaborative Care Models: Encouraging collaborative care models that involve multidisciplinary teams could help distribute responsibilities more efficiently.
Working together, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies can effectively address the shortage of medical assistants.
- The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (KVMV) is advocating for an increase in training places for Medical Assistants (MFAs) as a solution to the current shortage, recognizing that fortifying training programs could help increase the workforce.
- To improve the attractiveness of Medical Assistant roles, the Association of Medical Professions (VMF) President, Hannelore König, suggests embracing technology to integrate digital tools and automation, which can optimize workflows and reduce workloads, in addition to better pay, work-life balance opportunities, enhanced benefits, and clearer career progression paths.
