Hospitals in upstate New York are courting New York City physician residents in an attempt to counter a growing physician shortage.

At least 25 hospitals and health care organizations are expected to attend an open house and job fair for physician residents on October 21 at the Sheraton Hotel in Midtown, an event organized by the Greater New York Hospital Association.

Representatives from upstate chambers of commerce and state lawmakers also plan to present information about upstate real estate and schools, as well as loan forgiveness programs and visa waivers for physicians who work in underserved areas.

“The upstate physician crisis is only going to get worse unless we explore creative solutions,” the president of GNYHA, Kenneth Raske, said. “If this event persuades even a few residents to practice upstate, it will be a success.”

A growing physician shortage has become a priority for the upstate medical community in recent years. In a survey conducted earlier this year by the Healthcare Association of New York State, 99 hospitals statewide reported a collective shortage of 804 doctors. Among 11 hospitals in the Rochester area, 104 primary care physicians were needed. Of 15 hospitals in central New York, 114 primary care physicians were needed, in addition to 45 general surgeons. Earlier this year, Senator Schumer introduced legislation to facilitate upstate recruitment efforts and to fund programs that send doctors to underserved regions.

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MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC TO SCREEN HOMELESS

A mobile health clinic designed to screen homeless New Yorkers for tuberculosis and breast cancer will be unveiled tomorrow at City Hall.

The 40-foot ScanVan will traverse the city equipped with digital X-ray and mammography equipment, according to the homeless advocacy group that will operate the van, Project Renewal. Three medical professionals will staff the $650,000 ScanVan. Project Renewal officials said they hope to screen 5,000 individuals annually and they that will facilitate follow-up care if necessary.

A recent daily census of homeless New Yorkers by the city’s Department of Homeless Services tallied 35,853 homeless individuals, among them 6,796 homeless single adults and 9,499 homeless families.

The ScanVan was paid for by the state Department of Health, the City Council, and private foundations.

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PWC APPOINTS DIRECTOR OF HEALTH CARE CONSULTANCY

PricewaterhouseCoopers has named Dr. Jon Cohen managing director of its health industries advisory services.

Dr. Cohen, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2006 on a platform that advocated health care reform, previously served as chief medical officer of the fourth-largest nonprofit health system nationwide, the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Previously, he held several leadership positions at the medical center, including executive vice president. In an interview, Dr. Cohen said his motivation is unchanged. “The drive is the same, the drive is to have an impact on reforming the health care system,” he said. “Health care is the social issue of our generation.”

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TOWN HALL MEETING WILL FOCUS ON HEALTH LITERACY

Lawmakers and health professionals are expected to convene today for a town hall meeting focused on improving public health literacy. In response to a request by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the mayor’s office and the Literacy Assistance Center of New York will host the meeting, to take place at Baruch College. It is believed that a person’s health status correlates to their reading ability and their ability to understand medical issues. Representatives from the city’s Department of Health, as well as the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, are expected to offer testimonials.

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WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM FOCUSES ON MEMORY

Neurologists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center presented information on Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders at the hospital’s 25th annual Women’s Health Symposium, held October 11. Topics included strategies for maintaining mental “fitness” and developments in the Alzheimer’s research. Previously the symposium has focused on nutrition, heart disease, and cancer. “More than anything else, women are the caretakers of the family,” the director of the hospital’s Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center, Dr. Orli Etingin, said.

esolomont@nysun.com