| In other states in the country, Pediatrics in Texas | | | | For some time now there have been assumptions |
| is going through many of the same rough patches | | | | of shortages of physicians of many specialties in |
| as other specialties. Of the 62966 physicians in | | | | the US. For pediatricians the issue seems to be |
| the state of Texas, roughly 4700 specialize in | | | | with the subspecializations like neurology, |
| Pediatric medicine. For many of the 800 Texas | | | | gastroenterology, and developmental and |
| urologists the future is uncertain. Of those nearly | | | | behavioral medicine and pediatric surgeons. As a |
| four thousand Pediatricians, nearly forty five | | | | result of this shortage, incomes have outpaced |
| hundred are M.D.'s and 173 are D.O.'s. While there | | | | other medical disciplines. The deficiency is |
| may be some differences in training, both M.D.'s | | | | abundant enough that the salaries for some of |
| and D.O.'s are equally recognized and have the | | | | these sub specialties is approaching that of adult |
| ability to become a Pediatrician / doctor. A | | | | specialties for the first time. According to the |
| Pediatrician medical doctor normally has at least 10 | | | | MGMA Physician Compensation Surveys pediatric |
| years of instruction including a undergraduate | | | | sub-specialists salaries have grown greatly and for |
| degree in a healthcare or science related area, a | | | | one of the first times, pediatric surgeons actually |
| medical doctorate (graduate, Alleopathic or | | | | earn more than their adult surgeon counterparts. |
| Osteopathic), and an accredited Pediatrics | | | | SHORTAGES |
| residency (post-graduate). | | | | This increased demand is on top of the fact that |
| HEALTH CARE REFORM | | | | hospitals report that jobs for the top Pediatric |
| The ongoing story of health reform having an | | | | specialties are going unoccupied; reporting deficits |
| effect on all specializations. Until it becomes | | | | in pediatric-rehabilitation medicine, hematology and |
| apparent accurately what is being altered and how | | | | oncology, and cardiology. For families, that often |
| that will touch each partaker the market will be | | | | means waiting for months to see a specialist and |
| hamstrung. Uncertainty affects spending on | | | | incurring heavy travel costs to find suitable care. |
| expansion and hiring at all levels of health care. | | | | DEMOGRAPHICS |
| Some stipulations of the law are attempting to | | | | An overriding concern is the demographics of the |
| concentrate on shortages in primary care. The | | | | United States. The main bulk of the populace in |
| Senate bill includes a measure that would finance a | | | | the US is the baby boomer age group which is |
| loan-forgiveness program for pediatric | | | | now entering retirement age. The "boomers" |
| sub-specializations, easing the financial burden of | | | | cause several problems, one this means the bulk |
| medical-school costs. The federal Medicare | | | | of physicians are retiring just when they will be |
| program funds training programs for adult | | | | needed most, two as we grow older we insist on |
| medicine. Congress five years ago authorized | | | | more health care services. Greater request for |
| funding for pediatric specialty training, but the | | | | services will cause an even greater financial |
| funds must be re-authorized every year. | | | | pressure on the government through amplified |
| Pediatric organizations continue pressing for to | | | | dependence on Medicare. Finally a good news / |
| more funding for residents. The cost of education | | | | bad news is they may live much longer then any |
| is going higher (see California!) and yet the income | | | | age bracket before but this will further hamper |
| for pediatrics is not on a par with many other | | | | the budget with demands on Social Security and |
| specialties. There may be a need to get | | | | Medicare. Even though the baby boom problem |
| repayment for training or upper reimbursement | | | | does not directly impact pediatrics, it does |
| for pediatric residents, in the hope of encouraging | | | | indirectly in that their increased need will mean |
| more doctors-in-training to enter the field. | | | | higher salaries for those specialties that care for |
| Sub-specialization typically requires up to three | | | | them and less for pediatrics. To further confuse |
| years of education beyond a general pediatrics | | | | the issue there is a mini baby boom going on now |
| residency and historically can compensate salaries | | | | that will directly increase demand for all pediatric |
| less than half the rate of adult specialty medicine. | | | | specializations. |
| INCREASED DEMAND | | | | Solutions: |
| The demand for pediatric sub-specialists is | | | | To cope with the riddle, many hospitals are |
| continuing to increase for the following reasons: * | | | | turning to telemedicine, remote consultations using |
| More Educated consumers requesting | | | | two-way video systems-and mobile vans that |
| sub-specialists for treatment * Elevated obesity | | | | may drive 100's of miles to set up clinics in |
| rates among children * Fellowship programs not | | | | under-served areas. Hospitals are also more often |
| meeting the current mini boom in population of | | | | shifting to adult specialists to treat kids, |
| children | | | | nonetheless not all are willing to do so since their |
| Many general pediatric residents are pursuing | | | | instruction is for adult physiology rather than |
| pediatric sub-specialization training. The number of | | | | childrens. |
| subspecialty training openings has not adequately | | | | Pediatric jobs Med Peds jobs and Pediatrics jobs |
| increased during this last decade. | | | | New Jersey. |
| RISING DEMAND RISING INCOME | | | | |