Jensen Beach, Florida: Flying Physician uses pilots license to cover growing emergency room shortage

Jensen Beach -   Hospitals all over the U.S facing more and more difficulty to to cover emergency rooms.

It's a crisis that's not going away. A shortage of E-R doctors all over the country, including here in South Florida.

The problem is so bad, some hospitals are even paying physicians thousands of dollars to fly to their emergency rooms.

Dr. Mike Adelberg spends most of his days, seeing patients at his Stuart Urgent Care in Jensen Beach.

But Adelberg isn't just a doctor. He's a pilot too.

The emergency room physician uses his twin engine Piper Seneca to fly around the country covering shifts at hospitals that need him.

"I have nine active licenses all over the country, because of that I get calls in states mainly along the eastern seaboard."

Adelberg earned his wings before getting his medical license. His career as a flying doctor started after he finished his residency in the Detroit area nearly three decades ago he got a call to work a shift about four hundred miles away.

"I asked them if they wouldn't mind if I fly up there seemed like a good way to use flying as an excuse to get to work."

Flying Physicians can make about $10,000 to cover three  shifts over a 36-hour period.

Adelberg says its all about supply and demand.

Source:  http://www.cbs12.com