Dale Lupu1, Leo Quigley2, Nicholas Mehfoud2, Edward S Salsberg2. 1. Center for Aging, Health & Humanities, George Washington University School of Nursing, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Electronic address: dlupu@gwu.edu. 2. George Washington University School of Nursing & Health Workforce Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: The need for hospice and palliative care is growing rapidly as the population increases and ages and as both hospice and palliative care become more accepted. Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) is a relatively new physician specialty, currently training 325 new fellows annually. Given the time needed to increase the supply of specialty-trained physicians, it is important to assess future needs to guide planning for future training capacity. OBJECTIVES: We modeled the need for and supply of specialist HPM physicians through the year 2040 to determine whether training capacity should continue growing. METHODS: To create a benchmark for need, we used a population-based approach to look at the current geographic distribution of the HPM physician supply. To model future supply, we calculated the annual change in current supply by adding newly trained physicians and subtracting physicians leaving the labor force. RESULTS: The current U.S. supply of HPM specialists is 13.35 per 100,000 adults 65 and older. This ratio varies greatly across the country. Using alternate assumptions for future supply and demand, we project that need in 2040 will range from 10,640 to almost 24,000 HPM specialist physicians. Supply will range from 8100 to 19,000. CONCLUSION: Current training capacity is insufficient to keep up with population growth and demand for services. HPM fellowships would need to grow from the current 325 graduates annually to between 500 and 600 per year by 2030 to assure sufficient physician workforce for hospice and palliative care services given current service provision patterns.
CONTEXT: The need for hospice and palliative care is growing rapidly as the population increases and ages and as both hospice and palliative care become more accepted. Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) is a relatively new physician specialty, currently training 325 new fellows annually. Given the time needed to increase the supply of specialty-trained physicians, it is important to assess future needs to guide planning for future training capacity. OBJECTIVES: We modeled the need for and supply of specialist HPM physicians through the year 2040 to determine whether training capacity should continue growing. METHODS: To create a benchmark for need, we used a population-based approach to look at the current geographic distribution of the HPM physician supply. To model future supply, we calculated the annual change in current supply by adding newly trained physicians and subtracting physicians leaving the labor force. RESULTS: The current U.S. supply of HPM specialists is 13.35 per 100,000 adults 65 and older. This ratio varies greatly across the country. Using alternate assumptions for future supply and demand, we project that need in 2040 will range from 10,640 to almost 24,000 HPM specialist physicians. Supply will range from 8100 to 19,000. CONCLUSION: Current training capacity is insufficient to keep up with population growth and demand for services. HPM fellowships would need to grow from the current 325 graduates annually to between 500 and 600 per year by 2030 to assure sufficient physician workforce for hospice and palliative care services given current service provision patterns.
Authors: Rachelle Bernacki; Joanna Paladino; Bridget A Neville; Mathilde Hutchings; Jane Kavanagh; Olaf P Geerse; Joshua Lakin; Justin J Sanders; Kate Miller; Stuart Lipsitz; Atul A Gawande; Susan D Block Journal: JAMA Intern Med Date: 2019-06-01 Impact factor: 21.873
Authors: Nathan A Gray; Arif H Kamal; Laura C Hanson; Janet Bull; Jean S Kutner; Christine S Ritchie; Kimberly S Johnson Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2021-11-16 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Ayla Pelleg; Emily Chai; R Sean Morrison; Diane W Farquhar; Keisha Berglund; Laura P Gelfman Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2021-06-30 Impact factor: 2.947