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Pediatric Orthopaedic Medicine Workforce: Defining the Subspecialty and Trends
Melissa A Bent1,2, Saji Azerf3, Natalie Stork4,5
1Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Insights
Pediatric orthopaedic medicine (POM) is an emerging subspecialty. The inaugural survey reveals a diverse POM workforce, highlighting the need for integrated training to meet children's musculoskeletal care needs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopaedics
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Medical Subspecialties
Background:
- Pediatric orthopaedic medicine (POM) has emerged as a subspecialty over the last two decades.
- It involves pediatricians trained by specialists in orthopaedics, PM&R, and sports medicine.
- This subspecialty addresses a wide range of pediatric orthopaedic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define and describe the pediatric orthopaedic medicine (POM) subspecialty.
- To characterize the current workforce within POM.
- To summarize findings from the inaugural POM Workforce Survey by the AAP Section on Orthopaedics (AAP-SOOr).
Main Methods:
- A 79-question workforce survey was developed by AAP-SOOr leadership and members.
- The survey targeted POM subspecialists, collecting data on demographics, training, practice settings, and academic activities.
- Data analysis involved descriptive statistics using STATA 14.0; the study was IRB-exempt.
Main Results:
- The survey achieved an 85% response rate from distributed individuals.
- The POM workforce comprises 56% females and 44% males.
- The primary practice setting is academic (medical school/university) at 61%, followed by multispecialty groups (17%).
Conclusions:
- The surveyed POM workforce is diverse across gender, practice settings, and academic ranks.
- Findings offer insights for developing and recruiting talent in pediatric orthopaedic medicine.
- Integrating POM specialists into pediatric orthopaedic training is crucial for a versatile workforce.
Background:
Over the past two decades, a number of pediatricians have been trained by current pediatric orthopaedic medicine physicians, surgeons, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, and primary care sports medicine providers treating a spectrum of pediatric orthopaedic conditions. This has evolved into a new pediatric subspecialty, pediatric orthopaedic medicine (POM). This study was designed to define and describe the POM specialty and its current workforce. It is a summary of the findings of the inaugural POM Workforce Survey of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Orthopaedics (SOOr).
Methods:
Leadership and members of the AAP-SOOr developed a workforce survey to define the scope of physicians working in POM. The survey of 79 questions included demographics, undergraduate medical education training, clinical practice setting, academic profile of activities, and other areas of interest.The survey was distributed to POM subspecialists between July 18, 2023, and August 31, 2023. Data analysis was performed using STATA 14.0 to generate descriptive statistics. This study was deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board of the AAP.
Results:
Surveys were distributed to 27 individuals, 11 of whom were AAP-SOOr members. The response rate was 85%. Of this group, 56% were female and 44% males. The most common practice setting was medical school/university settings (61%), followed by multispecialty groups (17%) and community hospitals.
Conclusions:
Overall, the POM workforce surveyed reflects a diverse group with representation across different genders, practice settings, and academic ranks. These findings provide valuable insights into the characteristics of this group, which can inform strategies for workforce development and recruitment in pediatric orthopaedic medicine.
Key Concepts:
(1)This report summarizes the findings of the inaugural pediatric orthopaedic medicine workforce survey of the AAP Section on Orthopaedics (AAP-SOOr).(2)This study underscores the valuable role of the pediatric orthopaedic medicine workforce in providing comprehensive musculoskeletal care for children.(3)Findings highlight the need to integrate POM specialists into pediatric orthopaedic training to prepare a versatile workforce capable of addressing diverse patient needs.
Level Of Evidence:
IV.
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