While many sources cite a shortage of family physicians (and also other primary care providers, i.e. internists, pediatricians, and general practitioners),[REF] the per capita supply of primary care physicians has actually increased about 1 percent per year since 1998 [REF].
The waning interest in family medicine in the U.S. is likely due to several factors, including the lesser prestige associated with the specialty, the lesser pay, and the increasingly frustrating practice environment.