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Where do graduating pediatric residents seek practice positions?
William L Cull1, Chiang-hua Chang, David C Goodman
1Division of Health Services Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, USA. wcull@aap.org
Summary
Pediatric residents prefer high-supply job markets, even though they face greater difficulty finding employment there. Current incentives do not seem to balance pediatrician distribution across geographic areas.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Healthcare workforce analysis
- Market dynamics
Background:
- Understanding pediatric resident job search preferences is crucial for addressing pediatrician distribution.
- Geographic variations in pediatrician supply can impact access to care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize job search targets of graduating pediatric residents.
- To determine if higher pediatrician supply in primary care markets correlates with job search difficulty.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed a national random sample of 500 graduating pediatric residents.
- Linked targeted communities to local characteristics using Dartmouth Primary Care Service Areas (PCSAs).
- Analyzed PCSA data using 2000 US Census and physician databases.
Main Results:
- Residents preferred areas with higher pediatrician ratios, incomes, and urban settings.
- Applying to high-pediatrician-supply areas increased reported job search difficulty.
- Residents in higher-supply areas sent more applications and received lower starting salaries.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric residents continue to favor high-supply job markets despite increased search challenges.
- Existing incentives and market forces are insufficient to correct uneven pediatrician distribution.