This letter is in response to the article by Joe Conaway regarding shortages of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, and the lack of affordable housing in the June 6 issue. While I agree with the issues he raised and the suggestion that we need a medical school in Sussex County, it will take a very long time before it makes any improvement to the seriously desperate situation not only Sussex County is in, but the entire state.
Having been in the medical/dental recruitment field for more than 25 years, I see a huge issue that needs to be addressed before the recruiting efforts by hospitals and the medical/dental community can be effective. Allow reciprocity for doctors, dentists and other licensed professionals applying for licensure in Delaware. No licensed professional from other states, in good standing, that has been practicing for several years wants to sit for the boards again. The good ole boys decided many years ago this rule would be a great thing to keep competition down. They were not thinking about how this would affect the care of Delaware residents, only of their wallets. We are now, and have been for several years, suffering from that very selfish and bad decision. Allowing reciprocity would see an immediate effect on the number of professionals moving to our amazing state and providing care to our ever-increasing population.
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