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Manpower deficiencies in cardiovascular pathology. Implications for medical care of cardiovascular diseases
B M McManus1, J E Wilson, L C Struve
1Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.
Insights
A survey revealed a significant shortage of cardiovascular pathologists, with many institutions needing but not planning to hire these specialists. This manpower gap impacts patient care quality in cardiovascular disease treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Medical Manpower Studies
- Pathology Workforce Analysis
Background:
- General pathology manpower shortages are documented.
- Specific data on cardiovascular pathologists are lacking.
- This study addresses the need for understanding the cardiovascular pathology workforce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess perceptions of cardiovascular pathology manpower needs.
- To identify necessary training and expertise for cardiovascular pathologists.
- To evaluate institutional hiring plans versus perceived needs.
Main Methods:
- Survey distributed to US and Canadian academic pathology department chairs and chiefs of cardiovascular programs.
- Inquiry into perceptions of cardiovascular pathologist needs, funding, and hiring intentions.
- Assessment of desired career orientations for cardiovascular pathologists.
Main Results:
- 41% of institutions need to add a cardiovascular pathologist.
- 39% have available funding, but only 19% plan to hire.
- 77% desire pathologists skilled in diagnostics and research.
Conclusions:
- A significant discrepancy exists between institutional needs and hiring plans for cardiovascular pathologists.
- There is a substantial shortage of cardiovascular pathologists.
- This deficiency negatively impacts the quality of cardiovascular disease care and research.
Abstract:
The general shortage of pathology manpower has been well documented, but virtually no published data are available on cardiovascular pathologists. To address this situation, the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology surveyed all chairpersons of academic pathology departments, chiefs of academic clinical cardiovascular programs, including adult and pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, in the United States and Canada, regarding their perceptions of cardiovascular pathology manpower and the training and areas of expertise necessary for a competent cardiovascular pathologist. Of total respondents, 41% stated that their institution's department of pathology needed to add a cardiovascular pathologist, 39% of respondents replied that money and funding were available to hire an additional cardiovascular pathologist, yet only 19% stated that their institution intended to add a cardiovascular pathologist. In regard to career orientation, 77% of respondents wanted a cardiovascular pathologist capable of both diagnostic work and basic research. The survey results show a significant discrepancy between apparent institutional needs for cardiovascular pathologists and hiring plans, implying that there is a substantial shortage of cardiovascular pathologists. This deficiency in cardiovascular pathology manpower has important ramifications for the amount and quality of medical services that can be provided to clinical cardiovascular colleagues in an era of increasingly complex pathobiological information and interventional strategies in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.