ROME, NY -- Doctor shortages are a national problem and they are feeling the effects at Rome Memorial Hospital where visits to the Emergency Department are up 35% over the last three years.

Hospital administration is attributing increased visits to the ER to the shortage of primary care physicians in that area. Administration says more and more people are coming to the emergency department unnecessarily. They believe that when people need treatment, their doctors are too booked to see them right away. Instead, they are heading to the emergency department at the hospital for treatment for things like earaches and backaches which aren't considered true emergencies.

Cassie Winter, Rome Memorial Hospital spokesperson said, "The patients with the earaches, backaches, they're waiting for hours to be seen and it's not the best place for care for them."

CEO of University Hospital, Dr. John McCabe said, "There are many communities where the specialty coverage and primary care coverage is a bit tenuous at best, and the bottom can fall out at any point."

Dr. McCabe says there are many factors contributing to the shortage of primary care physicians. One major one is that specialty positions pay more.

In Rome, they are hoping to attract 12 new primary care doctors to meet the needs of the area.