By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – Hospitals near Camp Lejeune Marine Base are facing a shortage of doctors and a new report says the Marine Corps growth will make that shortage worse.
The report commissioned by the Military Growth Task Force shows a shortage of a variety of types of doctors, including cardiologists and general surgeons.
The Marine Corps plans to add more than 11,000 Marines to Camp Lejeune and two nearby air stations by 2011.
Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital Captain Gerard Cox says Marine families often use facilities off base.
"We rely very heavily on the local civilian medical community, including hospitals like Onslow Memorial and New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, where we refer patients routinely for subspecialty medical care."
Cox says doctor deployments make it difficult to keep a stable team of doctors at the Naval Hospital.
The report also says the military growth will exacerbate the shortage of mental health and substance abuse services.
To read the Military Growth Task Force report on the impact of military growth in eastern North Carolina, click here.
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