The practice of pathology in Canada: dec... [Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012]
Sections of Gynecological and Cytopathology Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto,
Canada.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Pathology
organizations in the United States are preparing for a new era of health
care reform. Trends in the supply of pathologists in Canada's
managed care system may provide some useful insights in any analysis
and projection of future pathologist needs in the United States.
OBJECTIVE:
In this study, population-based Canadian databases were used to devise a parameter for physician supply, cancer cases per physician. The trend in this supply parameter for pathologists was compared to that for radiation oncologists.
DESIGN:
The number of Canadian pathologists and radiation oncologists and the annual number of new cancer cases in each of 2 years, 1999 and 2009, were extracted from reliable databases. Cancer
cases per pathologist and oncologist were calculated, and relative
trends in supply of physicians in both specialties were identified.
RESULTS:
The annual number of new cancer
cases increased from 129,300 to 171,000 from 1999 to 2009. The absolute
numbers of both pathologists and oncologists also increased in this
time period. However, while the increase in the number of radiation
oncologists led to an 8.2% decrease in cancer cases per radiation oncologist, the modest increase in the number of pathologists led to an increase of 17.1% in cancer cases per pathologist.
CONCLUSIONS:
There is a trend toward a decreasing supply of Canadian pathologists relative to that of cancer
demands. This finding confirms an earlier population-based study
showing a decreased supply relative to population and number of clinical
physicians. It is uncertain whether this decreased supply is a result
of appropriate application of new, efficient methods or whether health
care has been rationed or adversely impacted. Outcome measures to
monitor Canadian pathology practice quality are clearly needed.
0 comments :
Post a Comment
Your comments?
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.