Pediatric dermatology workforce in the United States

Pediatr Dermatol. 2019 Jan;36(1):166-168. doi: 10.1111/pde.13684. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Abstract

Studies have suggested there is a shortage of pediatric dermatologists in the United States, but the workforce has not been well defined. The Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Workforce Committee sought to characterize the US pediatric dermatology workforce with a nine-question survey, sent to all 484 US SPD members in December 2016. The response rate was 30%. Most pediatric dermatologists were practicing in major metropolitan markets, seeing an average of 80 patients a week with an average 6-week wait time. These findings indicate that geographic maldistribution and long wait times for new patient appointments remain substantial hurdles for adequate access to subspecialty pediatric dermatology care.

Keywords: children; education; pediatric; pediatric dermatology; pediatrics; workforce.

MeSH terms

  • Appointments and Schedules
  • Child
  • Dermatologists / supply & distribution*
  • Dermatology / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Workforce / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Societies, Medical
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Waiting Lists