Rheumatologist Shortage Faces Arthritis Patients

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Blair

Rheumatologist Shortage Faces Arthritis Patients

As the population grows older, more people will develop arthritis and seek

effective treatment. It has been projected that the increased need for

practicing _rheumatologists_

(http://arthritis.about.com/cs/docpad/a/rheumatologist.htm) will result in a

shortage during future decades, according to a study

published in the March 2007 issue of _Arthritis & Rheumatism._

(http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/114130648/ABSTRACT)

Researchers

analyzed a workforce projection of rheumatology specialist supply and demand

for

2005-2025. The model to project the future need for rheumatologists was

developed using the age and sex distribution of current physicians, retirement

and

mortality rates, the number of fellowship slots and fill rates, and practice

patterns of current rheumatologists.

In 2005, there were 4,946 rheumatologists for adult patients in the United

States. Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize in treating _arthritis and

related rheumatic conditions_

(http://arthritis.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/a/whatisarthritis.htm) .

Study results revealed that the mean number of

visits per rheumatologist per year is 3,758 for male rheumatologists and 2,800

for female rheumatologists. The demand for rheumatologists in 2025 is

expected to exceed supply by 2,576 adult rheumatologists and 33 pediatric

rheumatologists. To correct this aspect of a pending health crisis, researchers

suggested that it's necessary to:

* increase the number of _fellows_

(http://www.abim.org/resources/trainfellow.shtm) each year

* utilize more physician assistants and nurse practitioners

* improve the efficiency of each rheumatology practice

Already, some arthritis patients have long wait-times when making

appointments with rheumatologists, especially those living away from big

cities. Expect

the problem to get worse before it gets better.

Related Resources:

* _First Visit to the Rheumatologist_

(http://arthritis.about.com/cs/docpad/a/rheumatologist.htm)

* _10 Reasons to Fire Your Doctor

* Should You Change Your Doctor?_

(http://arthritis.about.com/cs/docpad/a/changedoc.htm)

* _How to Choose the Right Doctor for You_

(http://arthritis.about.com/cs/docpad/ht/choosedoctor.htm)

* _Improving Communication With Your Doctor_

(http://arthritis.about.com/b/a/257403.htm)