The status of Hawaii's physician shortage could reach critical condition in the next 10 years.
A conference being held in Waikiki aims to identify the reasons why doctors are leaving the state, and what to do about it.
"Yes, there's a 22% shortage statewide," said Dr. Josh Green with the Independent Physician Association.
Statistics show Hawaii is at least 500 doctors short compared to the national average and the numbers are forecast to triple in the next decade.
"So you can expect at 30-40% shortage across all disciplines, primary care, cardiology, orthopedics, it's really quite serious," said Green.
Experts say many factors contribute to the Hawaii doctor deficit including reimbursement issues, better pay on the mainland and malpractice lawsuits.
"It's a perpetual problem with physicians, I think it's very difficult for doctors psychologically to work 80-90 hours and worry about lawsuits," said Green.
Dr. Green speaks from experience as a doctor on the Big Island and a state senator who serves as Vice Chair of the Health Care Committee.
More than 100 doctors, healthcare providers and other lawmakers met in Waikiki for a two-day conference to address the statewide doctor deficit and find solutions to the growing problem.
"I think the way to get more physicians, the fastest really, is the expansion of residency programs," said Sen. David Ige, Chairman of the Health Care Committee. "I mean, it's primarily a funding issue."
Lawmakers say they plan to request funding from the government to allow more residents to come to Hawaii and stay in Hawaii.
"When we find that when doctors are trained here we have an 80% chance of keeping them here," said Green.
But more needs to be done.
"You know we've been working on a package of incentives to try and encourage existing physicians to provide support in residency programs," said Ige.
"And I am hoping that solutions include things like loan repayment for every physician specialist or primary care that comes to Hawaii," said Green.
The meeting hopes to form a collaboration between doctors and health care providers with the goal of recruiting doctors and retaining them.
"We should be the mecca for physicians. We know people would love to live here but we have to give them a reason and that's going to be one of them," said Green.
