South Dakota Dermatology: Urban vs Rural Wait Times and Dermatologist Density.

BACKGROUND: As of 2019, South Dakota had only 32 registered dermatologists, one per 27,569 people. Wait times for dermatologic care are affected by factors such as socioeconomic status, provider distribution, and patient to provider ratios. This inaccessibility to care or prolonged wait times may lead to diagnosis and treatment delays as well as disease progression. We hypothesized wait times to see a dermatologist would be longer in rural areas than urban areas in South Dakota. METHODS: Dermatology clinics throughout South Dakota were contacted to obtain wait times. An internet search was conducted to develop a list of dermatology providers. A population of 50,000 or greater defined an urban area and a ratio of four dermatologists per 100,000 people was used as an ideal patient to provider ratio. RESULTS: Overall, 75% of South Dakota's dermatology clinics participated with an equal rural to urban distribution. There was no difference in wait times for new (p=0.787) or established patients (p=0.461) comparing rural and urban clinics. All South Dakota cities with clinics met the goal patient to dermatologist ratio except for Dakota Dunes (included as part of the Sioux City, Iowa, metro population). CONCLUSIONS: The data does not support the hypothesis that wait times for dermatologists would be longer in rural locations than urban locations. Despite adequate dermatologist to patient ratios throughout most of South Dakota, wait times of over six weeks were found at both urban and rural locations, indicating the need for future studies to assess potential solutions for improving timely access to dermatologic care.

Dermatology workforce projections in the United States, 2021 to 2036.

BACKGROUND: There has been a growing imbalance between supply of dermatologists and demand for dermatologic care. To best address physician shortages, it is important to delineate supply and demand patterns in the dermatologic workforce. The goal of this study was to explore dermatology supply and demand over time. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of workforce supply and demand projections for dermatologists from 2021 to 2036 using data from the Health Workforce Simulation Model from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. Estimates for total workforce supply and demand were summarized in aggregate and stratified by rurality. Scenarios with status quo demand and improved access were considered. RESULTS: Projected total supply showed a 12.45% increase by 2036. Total demand increased 12.70% by 2036 in the status quo scenario. In the improved access scenario, total supply was inadequate for total demand in any year, lagging by 28% in 2036. Metropolitan areas demonstrated a relative supply surplus up to 2036; nonmetropolitan areas had at least a 157% excess in demand throughout the study period. In 2021 adequacy was 108% and 39% adequacy for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, respectively; these differences were projected to continue through 2036. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the dermatology physician workforce is inadequate to meet the demand for dermatologic services in nonmetropolitan areas. Furthermore, improved access to dermatologic care would bolster demand and especially exacerbate workforce inadequacy in nonmetropolitan areas. Continued efforts are needed to address health inequities and ensure access to quality dermatologic care for all.

Demographic and medical school characteristics associated with urban versus rural dermatology practice: A national cross-sectional study.

There are significant disparities in access to dermatologists in rural areas relative to urban areas. We examined the associations between demographic and medical school characteristics and entry into dermatology practice in urban versus rural counties. All dermatologists who graduated from U.S. allopathic or osteopathic medical schools in the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Compare Database were assessed. Dermatology practice locations were coded as metropolitan or non-metropolitan according to the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. Of 10,076 dermatologists, 543 (5.4%) practiced in non-metropolitan counties. Male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.48, 95% CI 1.23-1.77), public medical school attendance (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61-2.34), DO degree (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.32-2.51), medical school location in a non-metropolitan county (OR 5.41, 95% CI 3.66-7.84), and medical school rural track program (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.07-2.26) were associated with higher odds of non-metropolitan dermatology practice. Our findings highlight that male gender, graduation from a non-metropolitan or public medical school, DO degree, and rural tracks are associated with higher likelihood of non-metropolitan dermatology practice. These results can inform efforts within the field of dermatology to strengthen the rural dermatologist workforce and suggest that rural educational experiences during medical school may increase recruitment of rural dermatologists.

Pediatric teledermatology: a tool for combating dermatology care disparities.

Social distancing requirements associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have allowed for the expansion of different healthcare delivery modalities. Namely, there has been an increase in the utilization of remote diagnostic services for both primary and specialist care. Dermatology care has traditionally been inaccessible to many pediatric patients; this is due in part to a limited number of practicing pediatric dermatologists, as well as a maldistribution of the pediatric dermatology workforce with the majority of providers located in large metropolitan areas. There is therefore a need for an accessible alternative for care to reach underserved patient populations. This commentary highlights evidence from recent studies on remote dermatology care (teledermatology) and how it has not only improved access to dermatologic care but also quality of care. Although teledermatology does not completely replace traditional in-person visits and is limited by poor broadband access in traditionally underserved areas, teledermatology can, in some instances, be a cost-effective and efficient alternative for pediatric patients otherwise lacking dermatologic care.

Dermatologist transitions: Academics into private practices and vice versa.

National experience demonstrates that most physicians will undergo a job change within the first few years of practice. Due to shifting payment models, personal preferences, and financial burden, among other factors, job transitions between private practice and academic medicine are expected. With the rising shortage of dermatologists and an increase in demand for dermatologic services, this particular topic is salient due to the impact on patient care, graduate medical education, and advances in research and medicine. The balance between these elements is fundamental for the future of dermatologic education and care. We address the challenges faced by dermatologists in both the academic and private practice settings, while offering insight into the motivations and barriers in the transition between the two.

Distribution of Dermatologists in Wisconsin: How Are We Doing in Providing Care to Our Most Vulnerable Communities.

BACKGROUND: The specialty of dermatology has not been affected by initiatives to help recruit physicians rurally, even with the rising demand for dermatology services. The geographic density of dermatologists is distributed unevenly across the nation; however, the distribution has not been analyzed at the state level for Wisconsin. METHODS: We analyzed geographic distribution information obtained from the American Academy of Dermatology. RESULTS: The Southeastern region of Wisconsin has the greatest density of dermatologists, with 6.76 per 100,000 individuals. Northeastern, Southern, Western, and Northern regions follow with ratios of 4.32, 3.97, 3.53, and 3.50, respectively. DISCUSSION: Two of the 5 state public health regions are adequately served with a ratio of greater than 4 dermatologists per 100,000 individuals. Wisconsin's regions with the greatest rural counties contain the worst ratios.

Consultas a dermatología en el sector público de salud en Chile en 2019 / Consultations to dermatology in the public sector of health in Chile in 2019

Introducción: Existe una amplia heterogeneidad en la distribución de médicos y especialistas en las distintas regiones de Chile. Dermatología no está exenta de esta realidad. Conocer la población consultante resulta clave para complementar la situación sanitaria que la distribución de médicos y diferencias en el acceso, reflejan a nivel nacional. Objetivo: Analizar descriptivamente las consultas a Dermatología durante el 2019 en el Sector Público de salud en Chile; según región, rango etario y consultas en operativos. Materiales y Métodos: 250.649 consultas realizadas a Dermatología reportadas por el DEIS durante el 2019. Resultados: Del total de las consultas a cualquier especialidad en el sector público de salud, las consultas a Dermatología suponen un 2.7%. De estas, la Región Metropolitana concentra el 45.2% mientras que la Región de Aysén es la que más consulta en función de su población. Se establece un promedio nacional de 14.1 consultas por cada 1000 habitantes. Las Zonas Norte y Centro consultan bajo este promedio, mientras que la Zona Sur consulta por sobre este. En cuanto al rango etario, se establecen peaks de consultas entre los 0-4 años, 15-19 y finalmente 75-79. Discusión: Dermatología presenta un porcentaje no despreciable del total de consultas a especialidad. Destaca la baja consulta en la Zona Norte, dado el antecedente de mayor prevalencia de cáncer de piel no melanoma respecto a la media nacional. Asimismo, la mayor consulta en Aysén se condice con una mayor densidad de médicos en la región, respecto a otras regiones.

Introduction: There is wide heterogeneity in the distribution of physicians in the different regions of Chile. Dermatology is no different from this reality. Studying the consulting population is key to complement the health situation that the distribution of physicians and differences in healthcare access reflect at the national level. Objective: To perform a descriptive analysis of the consultations made to Dermatology during 2019 in the Chilean Public Health Sector; according to region, age-range, and consultations in Health operatives. Materials and Methods: 250,649 consultations to Dermatology reported by the DEIS during 2019. Reslts: Of the total number of consultations to any specialty on the public sector, Dermatology accounts for 2.7%. Of these, the Metropolitan Region concentrates 45.2% of the consultations. Aysén is the region with the most consultations according to its population. There is a national average of 14.1 consultations per 1000 inhabitants. The Northern and Central regions consult below this average, while the Southern regions consult above it. Regarding age range, peaks of consultations are established between 0-4 years, 15-19 and finally 75-79. Discussion: Dermatology accounts for a non-negligible percentage of the total number of consultations to specialty. The low number of consultations in the Northern Zone is remarkable, given the history of high UV radiation in the area. Likewise, the greater number of consultations in Aysén is consistent with a greater density of physicians in the region when compared to other regions.

Melanoma prognosis in the United States: Identifying barriers for improved care.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in melanoma mortality, disparities in melanoma survival persist. We evaluated possible sociodemographic and health care-based predictors of differences in melanoma survival in the United States by using the melanoma mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR). METHODS: State-based MIRs were calculated by using US cancer statistics data from 1999 to 2014. Pearson correlations and linear regressions were used to determine associations between MIR and dermatologist density, primary care provider density, number of physicians by state, number of National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, health care spending per capita, average household income, racial/ethnic makeup of the population, percentage of uninsured individuals, and percentage with a bachelor's degree. RESULTS: The mean overall MIR was 0.15 ± 0.04; only Alaska was an outlier (0.24). No state MIRs increased significantly over time; MIR decreased for most states. Multivariable analysis revealed that states with more active physicians (P = .02) and a higher percentage non-Hispanic whites (P = .004) had higher MIRs (poorer survival). Significant Pearson correlations were seen between MIR and melanoma incidence (r = -0.72, P < .001), melanoma mortality (r = 0.38, P < .001), dermatologist density (r = 0.32, P < .001), and National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center count (r = -0.12, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma survival is improved in higher-incidence areas and areas with higher dermatologist density. These findings highlight areas of poorer melanoma survival and the need for local studies evaluating disparities in melanoma survival.

Pediatric dermatology workforce in the United States.

Studies have suggested there is a shortage of pediatric dermatologists in the United States, but the workforce has not been well defined. The Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Workforce Committee sought to characterize the US pediatric dermatology workforce with a nine-question survey, sent to all 484 US SPD members in December 2016. The response rate was 30%. Most pediatric dermatologists were practicing in major metropolitan markets, seeing an average of 80 patients a week with an average 6-week wait time. These findings indicate that geographic maldistribution and long wait times for new patient appointments remain substantial hurdles for adequate access to subspecialty pediatric dermatology care.

Comparison of Dermatologist Density Between Urban and Rural Counties in the United States.

Importance: As the US population continues to increase and age, there is an unmet need for dermatologic care; therefore, it is important to identify and understand the characteristics and patterns of the dermatologist workforce. Objective: To analyze the longitudinal dermatologist density and urban-rural disparities using a standardized classification scheme. Design, Setting, and Participants: This study analyzed county-level data for 1995 to 2013 from the Area Health Resources File to evaluate the longitudinal trends and demographic and environmental factors associated with the geographic distribution of dermatologists. Main Outcomes and Measures: Active US dermatologist and physician density. Results: In this study of nationwide data on dermatologists, dermatologist density increased by 21% from 3.02 per 100 000 people to 3.65 per 100 000 people from 1995 to 2013; the gap between the density of dermatologists in urban and other areas increased from 2.63 to 3.06 in nonmetropolitan areas and from 3.41 to 4.03 in rural areas. The ratio of dermatologists older than 55 years to younger than 55 years increased 75% in nonmetropolitan and rural areas (from 0.32 to 0.56) and 170% in metropolitan areas (from 0.34 to 0.93). Dermatologists tended to be located in well-resourced, urban communities. Conclusions and Relevance: Our findings suggest that substantial disparities in the geographic distribution of dermatologists exist and have been increasing with time. Correcting the workforce disparity is important for patient care.

Demographics and spatial distribution of the Brazilian dermatologists.

The medical-dermatological demographics favors health planning and guides expansion of the specialty. We conducted an ecological study of dermatologists members of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD). We evaluated: gender, age, address; which were compared with population and human development index indicators of municipalities. We evaluated 8384 members, distributed in 527 (9.5%) municipalities throughout Brazil. The female sex represented 78.4% of the members and the median age was 43 (36-54) years. The median density of dermatologists was 0.35 (0.21-0.37) per 10,000 inhabitants. The correlation (Spearman's rho) between density of dermatologists and human development index was 0.39 (p <0.01). The Brazilian dermatologist is characterized as: female, age <50 years and presenting an heterogeneous distribution throught the country.

Demographics and spatial distribution of the Brazilian dermatologists

Abstract: The medical-dermatological demographics favors health planning and guides expansion of the specialty. We conducted an ecological study of dermatologists members of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD). We evaluated: gender, age, address; which were compared with population and human development index indicators of municipalities. We evaluated 8384 members, distributed in 527 (9.5%) municipalities throughout Brazil. The female sex represented 78.4% of the members and the median age was 43 (36-54) years. The median density of dermatologists was 0.35 (0.21-0.37) per 10,000 inhabitants. The correlation (Spearman's rho) between density of dermatologists and human development index was 0.39 (p <0.01). The Brazilian dermatologist is characterized as: female, age <50 years and presenting an heterogeneous distribution throught the country.

Association of Dermatologist Density With the Volume and Costs of Dermatology Procedures Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Importance: The persistent shortage of dermatologists in the United States affects access to care and patient outcomes. Objective: To characterize the effect of geographic variations in dermatologist density on the provision of dermatology procedures within Medicare. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a cross-sectional study using the 2013 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Database. Dermatology-related procedures were defined by the top 50 billing codes accounting for more than 95% of procedures billed by dermatologists. Billing codes corresponding to evaluation and monitoring visits and dermatopathology were excluded. Total costs were estimated from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services physician fee schedule, based on the nonfacility national payment amount with no modifiers. Nationally representative administrative database that includes 100% of charges billed by noninstitutional clinicians covered under Medicare Part B. A total of 10 391 dermatologists practicing within the 50 states and Washington, DC, were included. The Medicare-eligible population was defined as all persons 65 years or older. Exposures: Density of dermatologists, categorized into first (5.3 per 100 000 persons ≥65 years) through fifth (54.8 per 100 000 persons ≥65 years) quintiles. Main Outcomes and Measures: Utilization of dermatology procedures (mean volume per 100 000 persons ≥65 years) and total cost (mean amount billed per person ≥65 years) by clinician type across quintiles of dermatologist density. Results: In 2013, dermatologists billed Medicare for 28 million procedures costing $2.21 billion. Mean billed amount by dermatologists per person 65 years or older was $15.87 in the lowest-density quintile vs $92.02 in the highest-density quintile. This trend suggests that each interval increase of 10 dermatologists per 100 000 persons 65 years or older is correlated with a $14.81 increase in Medicare spending on dermatology procedures (95% CI, 8.28-21.34; P = .005). Utilization of these procedures differed among clinician types, with dermatologists largely performing destruction of premalignant lesions and PCPs primarily doing injections. Conclusions and Relevance: There is evidence of supply-sensitive variation in the provision of dermatology procedures for the Medicare-eligible population; higher dermatologist density is correlated with increased utilization of dermatology procedures and subsequent billed charges to Medicare. Further research is needed to determine the effect of such variations on outcomes and whether incentives can better align dermatologists with areas of clinical need.

Regional healthcare delivery and demographic change in Germany - scenarios for dermatological care in 2035.

BACKGROUND: The 'demand planning guidelines' issued by the Federal Joint Committee are meant to ensure nationwide delivery of healthcare in Germany. The calculatory variable used to reflect the actual care situation in relation to a given geographical entity is referred to as 'adjusted supply rate'. Against the backdrop of demographic change and already existing problems in replacing retiring physicians, the question arises as to how future dermatological care will evolve at the regional level. METHODS: Using current 'demand planning guidelines' as well as nationwide data on the location of dermatologists and current and projected population figures at the county level, the adjusted supply rate - in terms of dermatological care - was calculated for the year 2035 based on three possible scenarios (scenario 1: 100 % replacement of retiring dermatologists; scenario 2: non-replacement of one dermatologist per planning area; and scenario 3: non-replacement of two dermatologists in rural areas). RESULTS: While scenario 1 shows an actual improvement in regional dermatological care in certain areas between 2014 and 2035 (n = 3 no longer undersupplied), the more likely scenarios 2 and 3 are potentially associated with considerable regional undersupply. CONCLUSIONS: Taking demographic change into account, it is safe to assume that the geographical heterogeneity of dermatological care will increase. This requires greater effort not only in terms of demand planning but also with regard to offering alternative methods of delivering healthcare and intercommunal cooperation. In this context, the objective will be to adapt healthcare delivery to changes both in demography as well as in the plans young physicians have for their own lives.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and secondary skin malignancies.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma commonly occurring in older adults. Many people with CLL can go for years without requiring treatment. However, they have an increased risk of secondary cancers, specifically melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Furthermore, these secondary cancers are frequently more aggressive in this cohort of patients. Health professionals working in haematology, dermatology and general practice have an opportunity to educate patients about risk factors and measures to aid prevention. Modern technology may assist patients and professionals in the early detection of secondary skin cancers, which will lead to expedited treatment and better survival outcomes.

Trends in dermatology practices and the implications for the workforce.

BACKGROUND: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) practice profile surveys have been conducted for more than a decade to gauge trends in our workforce supply and demand. OBJECTIVE: To update the trends and current workforce issues for the field of dermatology. METHODS: The AAD Practice Profile Survey is sent by both e-mail and postal mail to a random sample of practicing dermatologists who are AAD members. RESULTS: Shifts are noted in the primary practice setting; fewer dermatologists are in solo practice and more are in group practices than in previous years. Teledermatology use trended upward from 7% to 11% between 2012 and 2014. The implementation of electronic health records increased from 51% in 2011 to 70% in 2014. LIMITATIONS: There is potential for response bias and inaccurate self-reporting. Survey responses collected may not be representative of all geographic areas. CONCLUSION: The demand for dermatology services remains strong. Shifts in the practice setting may be related to increases in overhead costs that are partially associated with the implementation of technology-based medical records. Integration of electronic health records and utilization of telemedicine are increasing.