> The only solutions are to either get more money into schools to graduate more practitioners, or hope that new technology and innovation can somehow alleviate the burden of work on the existing care providers.
Why can't hospitals simply say to highschool graduates: We will "sponsor" your medical study, i.e. you won't have to take any debt for medical school education, but afterwards you will have to work, say, 10 years for us (with a priori defined salaries)?
This does occur in some states. Some students get loans repaid if they contract to work in rural areas for 5 years. I think this is still a symptom of too few graduates. The acceptance rate of US medical schools fluctuates around 20%, so there is no shortage of applicants. There is a shortage of available slots (both in school, and residency positions). According to an old NIH study, a student's tuition only covers about 60% of the cost of a four year med-school education. Universities are also required to pay a portion of the salaries for residents in affiliate hospitals. So lots of money going out of schools, but not much coming in.
Why can't hospitals simply say to highschool graduates: We will "sponsor" your medical study, i.e. you won't have to take any debt for medical school education, but afterwards you will have to work, say, 10 years for us (with a priori defined salaries)?