The nation is expected to face a major shortage of healthcare professionals in the coming years thanks in large part to an aging population. Some of the provisions put in place by the healthcare reform law as well as growing use of EHRs could address the issue to some degree, but much more needs to be done, according to a new report.

The National Institute for Health Care Reform cited an aging population and dwindling physician numbers as the primary causes of the looming doctor shortage. The group projected that the healthcare system will need an additional 25,000 to 45,000 physicians by the year 2020.

In order to tackle the problem, the healthcare reform put in place policies like favorable student loan terms for individuals entering healthcare and improved Medicare and Medicaid payments, but these will likely be insufficient, according to the report.

The authors recommended widening the scope of services that can be provided by advanced practice nurses and physician assistants. Furthermore, reforming payment models to incentivize team-based care could improve efficiency and allow fewer doctors to deliver more care.

While the looming doctor shortage is a recognized problem, there appear to be no immediate solutions on the horizon. However, continuing reform efforts could help address the issue, the report said.