Arizona seeing shortage of psychiatrists

The pinch leads primary care physicians to take on more mental health responsibilities.

By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. Dec. 12, 2005.

Arizona patients and primary care physicians alike are having a hard time accessing psychiatrists. According to new data, the state has 12 psychiatrists for every 100,000 of its citizens. That's below the national average of 17 psychiatrists.

For patients in Arizona, that means there are long waits for appointments with psychiatrists, said Mary Rimsza, MD, lead author of the "Arizona Psychiatric Physician Workforce Study." The shortage also leaves primary care physicians without ready access to psychiatric consults as they care for patients with mental health concerns.

"In my specialty of pediatrics, we've found it so difficult to obtain psychiatric care for our patients that our state's pediatricians have asked for continuing medical education on these issues so they can provide this care themselves," Dr. Rimsza said.

When residents in Louisiana and New Mexico lacked access to psychiatrists, it opened the door for psychologists to gain prescribing authority by arguing that the situation compromised access to mental health care.

A spokeswoman for the Arizona Medical Assn. said the state's legislative process has helped prevent similar efforts from succeeding there.

"Practitioners who want to change their scope have to go through an application or hearing process before submitting legislation," said Carol Wagner, director of legislative services for the state's medical association.