How many general surgeons do you need in rural areas? Three approaches to physician resource planning in southern Manitoba.
OBJECTIVE
To assess critically the results of using three different approaches to planning for the number of general surgeons in rural areas.


METHODS
Estimates of the number of general surgeons needed using a ratio approach, a and a population-needs-based approach.


METHODS
Rural southern Manitoba.


METHODS
Number of general surgeons needed.


RESULTS
The ratio approach supported the recruitment of 7.8 to 14.5 additional general surgeons to rural southern Manitoba. The repatriation approach suggested that the area might support five additional general surgeons, if residents could be persuaded to undergo their surgery closer to home. The population-needs-based approach suggested that the health status of area residents was similar to that of residents of other areas of the province and that they had a higher rate of surgery than residents of other areas; no additional surgeons were apparently needed.


CONCLUSIONS
Each method has certain advantages, and none is necessarily useful in isolation. Hence, the most effective approach to planning for general surgeons is likely a combination of all three methods. Other factors that may be important include the type of payment structure and the need for professional groups to monitor variations in rates of surgery.
Roos
N
N
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.
Black
C
C
Wade
J
J
Decker
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000078329:Workforce