Child Health and the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Workforce: 2020-2040.

Area of Science:

• Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM)
• Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce Planning

Background:

• The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) workforce has expanded significantly to meet increasing clinical demand.
• Newborn medicine faces growing complexity and demands for advanced care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the history and current status of the NPM workforce.
• To project future workforce needs and configurations using an analytical model.
• To identify potential future trends and challenges for neonatologists.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an analytical model to forecast neonatologist workforce growth from 2020 to 2040.
• Employed data on neonatologist numbers and clinical work equivalents per 100,000 children.
• Simulated future workforce supply under various theoretical scenarios by modifying baseline parameters.

Main Results:

• The model confirms a need for greater sustainable clinical capacity within the NPM workforce.
• Future trends suggest potential geographic shortages of neonatologists.
• Workforce size targets are not addressed due to variability in care needs and geographic distribution.

Conclusions:

• The NPM workforce must grow in numbers, capability, discovery, and leadership.
• Anticipated geographic shortages highlight the need for strategic workforce planning.
• Addressing future neonatologist needs requires considering regional variations and risk-appropriate care.