Is There a Shortage of Obstetrician-Gynecologists?
Projections of supply and demand for obstetricians-gynecologists suggest a current minimal or modest shortage that will worsen in the future. The US adult female population is expected to increase by more than 20% by 2045 and represents a key driver for increased demand for health care services. The annual number of obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyn) residency graduates has increased negligibly, whereas the proportion accepted into fellowships increased steadily, reducing those in general practice. The gradual increase in proportion of ob-gyns who are women coincides with desires for more work-life balance and earlier retirement from clinical practice. As the supply of advanced practice providers of women's health services grows, the need for more ob-gyns could be less to meet the projected demand.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 10 5580, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: jstonehocker@salud.unm.edu.
Jody
J
Stonehocker
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 10 5580, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
Joyce
J
Muruthi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 10 5580, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
William F
WF
Rayburn
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload
Demand; Obstetrician-gynecologist; Supply; Workforce