Small-town docs in short supply

St. Paul, Minn. — A Minnesota doctor says the shortage of doctors choosing to practice general surgery has hit a crisis point in rural Minnesota.

Dr. Howard McCollister is codirector of the Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Crosby. He says medical school students are choosing specialty surgeries because the hours and money are better.

"What happens is that not only are fewer people going into general surgery, but fewer people that go into general surgery are going into rural practice. Minnesota is a state that has a relatively high degree of rurality. This becomes a problem," said McCollister.

General surgeons can operate on any part of the body, and are especially needed during emergencies, involving numerous injuries.

McCollister said insurance companies need to increase their reimbursements for surgeries those doctors perform.