| r states in the country, the average Pediatrician in | | | | increased during this last decade. |
| Texas is experiencing many of the same rough | | | | RISING DEMAND RISING INCOME |
| patches as other specializations. Of the around | | | | For some time now there have been evidence of |
| 63,000 doctors in the Alamo state, 4639 | | | | shortfalls of physicians of many specialties in the |
| specialize in Pediatric medicine. For many of the | | | | US. For pediatricians the issue seems to be with |
| 800 Texas urologists the forseeable future is | | | | the subspecialties like neurology, gastroenterology, |
| uncertain. Of those roughly forty seven hundred | | | | and developmental and behavioral medicine and |
| Pediatricians, 4466 are M.D.'s and 173 are D.O.'s. | | | | pediatric surgeons. As a result of this shortage, |
| While there may be some differences in training, | | | | incomes have outpaced other medical disciplines. |
| both M.D.'s and D.O.'s are equally recognized and | | | | The shortage is great enough that the salaries for |
| have the ability to become a Pediatrician / | | | | some of these sub specialties is approaching that |
| physician. A Pediatrician doctor generally has at | | | | of adult specialties for the first time. According to |
| least ten to twelve years of learning including a | | | | the MGMA Physician Compensation Surveys |
| undergraduate degree in a healthcare or science | | | | pediatric sub-specialists salaries have increased |
| related area, a medical doctorate (graduate, | | | | greatly and for one of the first times, pediatric |
| Alleopathic or Osteopathic), and an accredited | | | | surgeons actually earn more than their adult |
| Pediatrics residency (post-graduate). | | | | surgeon counterparts. |
| HEALTH CARE REFORM | | | | SHORTAGES |
| The everlasting story of health reform having an | | | | This increased demand is on top of the fact that |
| impression on all specializations. Until it becomes | | | | institutions report that jobs for the top Pediatric |
| unmistakable just what is being reformed and | | | | specialties are going vacant; reporting deficits in |
| how that will affect each partaker the market will | | | | pediatric-rehabilitation medicine, hematology and |
| be hamstrung. Irresolution affects spending on | | | | oncology, and cardiology. For families, that often |
| growth and hiring at all levels of health care. | | | | means waiting for months to see a specialist and |
| Some stipulations of the bill are attempting to | | | | incurring heavy travel costs to find fitting care. |
| tackle shortages in primary care. The Senate bill | | | | DEMOGRAPHICS |
| includes a measure that would finance a | | | | A huge topic is the demographics of the United |
| loan-forgiveness program for pediatric | | | | States. The main body of the inhabitants in the |
| sub-specializations, easing the financial hardships of | | | | US is the baby boomer generation which is now |
| medical-school costs. The federal Medicare | | | | entering retirement age. The "boomers" cause |
| program funds training programs for adult | | | | several problems, one this means the bulk of |
| medicine. Congress five years ago authorized | | | | physicians are retiring just when they will be |
| funding for pediatric specialty training, but the | | | | needed most, two as we get older we demand |
| funds must be re-authorized every year. | | | | more health care services. Greater request for |
| Pediatric institutions go on with pressing for to | | | | services will cause an even greater financial |
| more funding for residents. The cost of training is | | | | pressure on the government through increased |
| going higher (see California!) and yet the income | | | | dependence on Medicare. Finally a good news / |
| for pediatrics is not on a par with many other | | | | bad news is they may live for a longer time then |
| specialties. There may be a need to get | | | | any generation before but this will further hamper |
| remuneration for training or higher reimbursement | | | | the budget with demands on Social Security and |
| for pediatric residents, in the hope of encouraging | | | | Medicare. Even though the baby boomer problem |
| more doctors-in-training to enter the arena. | | | | does not directly impact pediatrics, it does |
| Sub-specialization typically requires up to three | | | | indirectly in that their increased need will mean |
| years of education beyond a general pediatrics | | | | higher salaries for those specialties that care for |
| residency and historically can pay salaries less than | | | | them and less for pediatrics. To further confuse |
| half the rate of adult specialty medicine. | | | | the issue there is a mini baby boom going on now |
| INCREASED DEMAND | | | | that will directly increase demand for all pediatric |
| The demand for pediatric sub-specialists is | | | | specialties. |
| continuing to increase for the following reasons: | | | | Solutions: |
| * More Educated consumers requesting | | | | To cope with the setback, many hospitals are |
| sub-specialists for treatment | | | | turning to telemedicine, remote consultations using |
| * Amplified obesity rates among kids | | | | two-way video systems-and mobile vans that |
| * Fellowship programs not meeting the current | | | | may drive hundreds of miles to set up clinics in |
| mini boom in population of children | | | | under-served areas. Hospitals are also more often |
| Many general pediatric residents are pursuing | | | | deferring to adult specialists to treat children, even |
| pediatric sub-specialty training. The number of | | | | if not all are willing to do so since their preparation |
| subspecialty training openings has not appropriately | | | | is for adult physiology rather than childrens. |