title: Workforce Projections 2010-2020: Annual Supply and Demand Forecasting Models for Physical Therapists Across the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health human resources continue to emerge as a critical health policy issue across the United States.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a strategy for modeling future workforce projections to serve as a basis for analyzing annual supply of and demand for physical therapists across the United States into 2020.
  
  
  METHODS
  A traditional stock-and-flow methodology or model was developed and populated with publicly available data to produce estimates of supply and demand for physical therapists by 2020.
  
  
  METHODS
  Supply was determined by adding the estimated number of physical therapists and the approximation of new graduates to the number of physical therapists who immigrated, minus US graduates who never passed the licensure examination, and an estimated attrition rate in any given year. Demand was determined by using projected US population with health care insurance multiplied by a demand ratio in any given year. The difference between projected supply and demand represented a shortage or surplus of physical therapists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three separate projection models were developed based on best available data in the years 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Based on these projections, demand for physical therapists in the United States outstrips supply under most assumptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workforce projection methodology research is based on assumptions using imperfect data; therefore, the results must be interpreted in terms of overall trends rather than as precise actuarial data-generated absolute numbers from specified forecasting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outcomes of this projection study provide a foundation for discussion and debate regarding the most effective and efficient ways to influence supply-side variables so as to position physical therapists to meet current and future population demand. Attrition rates or permanent exits out of the profession can have important supply-side effects and appear to have an effect on predicting future shortage or surplus of physical therapists.
authors.affiliation: M.D. Landry, BScPT, PhD, Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Box 104002, Durham, NC 27708 (USA). mike.landry@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.affiliation: L.M. Hack, PT, DPT, MBA, PhD, FAPTA, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Laurita M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.affiliation: E. Coulson, PT, MBA, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coulson
authors.affiliation: J. Freburger, PT, PhD, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freburger
authors.affiliation: M.P. Johnson, PT, PhD, OCS, BAYADA Home Health Care, Moorestown, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: R. Katz, PT, DPT, MA, Adient Health, Moorpark, California; California State University, Northridge, California; and Chapman University, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: J. Kerwin, PT, PhD, MMHS, CareGroup Home Care, Watertown, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerwin
authors.affiliation: M.H. Smith, MLS, Research Department, American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, Virginia.
authors.forename: Megan H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: H.C. "Bud" Wessman, JD, MSPT, LNHA, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
authors.forename: Henry C Bud
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wessman
authors.affiliation: D.G. Venskus, PT, PhD, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia.
authors.forename: Diana G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Venskus
authors.affiliation: P.L. Sinnott, PT, PhD, MPH, Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California.
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Sinnott
authors.affiliation: M. Goldstein, EdD, Research Department (Retired), American Physical Therapy Association.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014481:United States