The Workforce in Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery: Moving into the Next Millennium

Abstract

This study represents a first step in a process to form coherent workforce recommendations for the field of otolaryngology.

Distance to care and relative supply among pediatric surgical subspecialties

“…In a technical appendix available upon request, we compared aggregate numbers from the AMA Masterfile and the American Board of Medical Specialties for pediatric surgery and found that the number of physicians self-reporting as pediatric surgeons was higher than the number reported as certified by American Board of Medical Specialties but similar to those reported in studies done by the Study on US Surgical Services [5]. Likewise, numbers for general and pediatric otolaryngologists are comparable to past reports [10,33]. Similar discrepancies between the AMA Masterfile and certification data have been previously reported for pediatric medical subspecialties and may reflect delays between initiation of practice and receipt of certification as well as practicing in a field despite lack of board eligibility and certification.…”

Otolaryngology workforce analysis

“…Questions pertaining to what is a full‐time practice and what constitutes a part‐time practice, comparisons of academic and private practices, male as opposed to female physician lifetime productivity, and the perceived generalist–specialist imbalance all polarize the debate. The major focus of workforce reforms should be to optimize the training of the future workforce within any given specialty and guide leaders to increase emphasis on areas for which more background and training are warranted and create policies to incentivize a more optimal distribution of care …”

Workforce Analysis of Neurotologists in the United States

“…An actuarial table produced by Bordley et al predicted 6490 practitioners in 1990 and 7589 in 2000 (2). Workforce analysis after these dates found the number of practitioners exceeded these estimates and, by 2000, had reached 8902 (3,4). Although recognizing a modest oversupply, continued projected growth in the physician supply, and decreasing mean age of otolaryngologists, no recommendation on future number of trainees was given (4).…”

“…Population growth in the United States has been very stable over time averaging 0.7% growth annually, implying that the fertility rate and annual immigration have been fairly constant (3). The measure showing the most change in the last 40 years is life expectancy.…”