Surgical workforce in the American South
Anthony Charles1, Katie Gaul, Stephanie Poley
1Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. anthony_charles@med.unc.edu
The American Surgeon
|February 23, 2011
Summary
The general surgery workforce in southern US states declined per capita from 1986 to 2006. This geographic maldistribution of surgeons impacts surgical access and exacerbates health disparities.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Surgical Workforce Analysis
- Geographic Health Disparities
Background:
- Geographic maldistribution of surgeons contributes to unequal surgical access and health disparities in the US.
- Understanding regional trends in the surgical workforce is crucial for addressing these disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate trends in the general surgery workforce in southern US states from 1981 to 2006.
- To analyze changes in the geographic distribution of surgeons relative to population growth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized American Medical Association Masterfile data spanning 1981 to 2006.
- Analyzed trends in general surgery workforce growth and geographic distribution in southern states.
- Compared workforce changes to population growth and regional trends.
Main Results:
- The general surgery workforce in the South peaked in 1986, followed by negative per capita growth.
- The geographic distribution of general surgeons shifted more than for surgical specialists.
- In 2006, 29% of southern counties (7.4 million people) lacked a general surgeon.
Conclusions:
- The failure of the general surgery workforce to keep pace with population growth has created significant access barriers.
- Addressing surgical workforce demand is essential for healthcare reform, especially in underserved southern regions.
- Mitigating geographic disparities in surgical access is imperative to reduce health inequities.
