new physicians in a decade. The ranks of medical specialists were dwindling. As a result of tort reform this trend has reversed.

Texas has licensed 10,878 new physicians in the four years after reform; a 30 percent increase from the previous four years. The net increase of 2,487 more new doctors represents the opportunity for 11 million more patient visits annually and a $1.74 billion direct economic impact. Those 189 doctors new to the Rio Grande Valley equate to 189 new small businesses, providing jobs to Valley residents and needed care to a growing population.

In 2007, for the first time ever, Texas licensed more than 3,000 new doctors. This year, we will license more than 4,000 new doctors.

Now, because of tort reform, the ranks of vital specialists across Texas are growing. Victoria, Abilene and Beaumont saw a net loss of doctors pre-reform. Today, those communities and others are posting impressive gains in their physician workforce.

For example, Corpus Christi, San Angelo, McAllen and Beaumont have added a neurosurgeon, while Galveston has added two and Lubbock has added three.

Since tort reform, Texas has improved its national standing from 48th to 43rd in the American Medical Association’s measurement of patient-care physicians per capita.

Because of tort reform Dr. David Cantu has re-instituted his obstetrical practice in Fredericksburg and Dr. Javier Cardenas has returned to his home town of McAllen to deliver babies.

Pediatric neurosurgeon Timothy George relocated his practice from North Carolina and credits tort reform with attracting him and his sought-after-specialty to Austin. Says Dr. George, “Texas made it easier to practice and easier to take care of complex patients.”

George Rodriguez walks today thanks to tort reform. Newly established Corpus Christi neurosurgeon Matthew Alexander urgently operated on Rodriguez’ spinal abscess, relieving the paralysis in his legs, and, in so doing, spared him life in a wheel chair. Without the state’s lawsuit limits, Dr. Alexander says he wouldn’t have relocated to Texas thus depriving Mr. Rodriguez access to emergency neurosurgery in Corpus Christi.

Cancer survivor Ruby Collins credits newly-minted Brownwood urologist Daniel Alstatt with saving her life. Dr. Alstatt says he wouldn’t have moved to Brownwood, population 19,000, if it weren’t for tort reform.

Thanks to the passage of lawsuits reforms, critical care services are now more readily available in many Texas communities. A few years ago a Central Texas man, George Kuempel, fell from an oak tree and broke his back. Nine hours later in a city 65 miles away, Mr. Kuempel finally got the specialized care he needed. One would have thought that a city of Austin’s size would have a spine surgeon readily available when urgently needed. Truth is there were too few neurosurgeons caring for a growing population in Travis and the surrounding counties. So, Mr. Kuempel was flown to Scott & White Hospital in temple for surgery.

That unfortunate event occurred prior to passage of the state’s medical lawsuit reforms. Since then, Austin has added two neurosurgeons and several of the remaining neurosurgeons are again taking emergency calls.