Enhancing the American Society of Clinical Oncology workforce information system with geographic distribution of oncologists and comparison of data sources for the number of practicing oncologists.
OBJECTIVE
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2007 workforce report projected US oncologist shortages by 2020. Intervening years have witnessed shifting trends in both supply and demand, demonstrating the need to capture data in a dynamic manner. The ASCO Workforce Information System (WIS) provides an infrastructure to update annually emerging characteristics of US oncologists (medical oncologists, hematologist/oncologists, and hematologists).


METHODS
Several possible data sources exist to capture the number of oncologists in the United States. The WIS primarily uses the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile database because it provides detailed demographics. This analysis also compares total counts of oncologists from American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification reports, the National Provider Identifier (NPI) database, and Medicare Physician Compare data. The analysis also examines geographic distribution of oncologists by age and US population data.


RESULTS
For each of the data sources, we pulled 2013 data. The Masterfile identified 13,409 oncologists. ABIM reported 13,757 oncologists. NPI listed 11,664 oncologists. Physician Compare identified 11,343 oncologists. Mapping of these data identifies distinct areas (primarily in central United States, Alaska, and Hawaii) that seem to lack ready access to oncologists.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to survey oncologists about practice patterns will help determine if productivity and service delivery will change significantly. ASCO is committed to tracking oncologist supply and demand, as well as to providing timely analysis of strategies that will help address any shortages that may occur in specific regions or practice settings.
American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; and Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA.
M Kelsey
MK
Kirkwood
Suanna S
SS
Bruinooge
Michael A
MA
Goldstein
Dean F
DF
Bajorin
Michael P
MP
Kosty
D005843:Geography; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States