Medical care is a high-stakes endeavor. But imagine if our ability to seek out quality health guidance and treatment was drastically hindered by a lack of available providers. The results could be detrimental or even life-threatening. 

That challenge is becoming a reality for all Americans, and particularly those living in rural and underserved areas. It could get worse if we fail to attract, train and retain talent in this critical field to meet growing demand.

Doctors have traditionally served many health needs, but their ranks are diminishing.

In fact, the U.S. could face a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians in the next decade, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. This includes between 20,000 to 40,000 primary care doctors –– a gap that would jeopardize short and long-term health for millions.

There are multiple factors contributing to this deficit. 

As our country’s population ages, the need for more health care professionals will only increase. By 2036, the percentage of Americans aged 65 or older will climb by over 30 percent while those 75 or older will rise by over 50 percent. Since we know older individuals require more medical care, these trends indicate a likely need for more, not fewer, practitioners. 

Simultaneously, more physicians will reach retirement age and begin to scale back or cease treating patients altogether. Right now, one in five doctors are over age 64 and nearly a quarter are between the ages of 55 and 64.

Finally, the intense nature of clinical care is also creating burdens on the physician workforce. Burnout, combined with concerns about reimbursement and inadequate support staffing, leads some providers to weigh changing careers. If left unaddressed, that outcome could exacerbate this crisis.

In my home state of Arkansas, we are acutely aware of these challenges.

Over 500,000 Natural State residents – more than one-sixth of our population, in about 50 of our 75 counties – live in an area defined by the federal government as lacking an adequate number of health professionals. As a largely rural state, we know broad issues in health care are only magnified in smaller communities with fewer resources. 

Fortunately, efforts are underway at both the state and federal level to bolster the medical workforce pipeline. Building on this foundation will be pivotal to helping ensure Americans, no matter where they live, have access to quality and affordable care.

I am championing bipartisan policies to support the next generation of physicians and prompt them to practice in rural or underserved areas. Senator Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and I have introduced bills that aim to increase access to medical residency slots as well as incentivize students to join the medical field by addressing direct financial concerns.

Specifically, our Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act would help increase the number of doctors and dentists by allowing them to defer student loan payments interest-free until the completion of their residency or internship programs.

Meanwhile, I have been a longtime advocate for expanding the availability of Graduate Medical Education (GME). The lack of medical residency positions across the country, but especially in Arkansas, has hindered our ability to prepare future doctors to live and serve in the communities that need them most. 

This problem stems from an outdated federal cap on the slots available for medical residents at hospitals that went into effect in 1997. Thankfully, leaders in my state have recognized this issue and are pursuing multiple pathways to remedy it. Previously, I have been pleased to help secure modest increases in Medicare-supported GME positions and will look to deliver more during this Congress.

Ensuring we are training more doctors to provide adequate care and encouraging enough to locate in areas already experiencing a strain on available medical assistance is a high priority. 

One Little Rock-based primary care provider recently recalled the agonizing dilemma he experienced after a patient suffered a stroke, was hospitalized and discharged before subsequently experiencing another stroke before he could schedule a follow-up appointment. The reason for that delay was the crushing demand his practice is already grappling with and complicating the delivery of care.

That story is one of many across primary and specialty care practices. And it could become more common if we fail to act.

As an optometrist by training, I fully understand the consequences of delaying or denying adequate health care. Americans will benefit from the concerted efforts we can make to ensure convenient access to well-trained medical providers for years to come.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the state’s senior senator. He also accumulated decades of experience as a successful healthcare provider, co-founding a major regional eye care practice in Arkansas.