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. 2024 Nov 1;5(11):e243531.
doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.3531.

Surgeon Workforce in Underserved Communities

Crystal D Taylor  1 , Sara L Schaefer  1 , Adrian Diaz  2 , Nicholas Kunnath  1 , John W Scott  3   4 , Andrew M Ibrahim  1
Affiliations

Surgeon Workforce in Underserved Communities

Crystal D Taylor et al. JAMA Health Forum. .
No abstract available

Plain language summary

This cohort study evaluates the Health Professional Shortage Area Surgeon Incentive Program to determine how it may have changed the surgeon workforce in designated areas.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Schaefer reported grants from the National Cancer Institute and the Coller Surgical Society during the conduct of the study, as well as personal fees from the JAMA Network outside the submitted work. Dr Scott reported grants from the National Institutes of Health during the conduct of the study and funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality outside the submitted work. Dr Ibrahim reported grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases during the conduct of the study and serving as a principal at HOK, a global design and architecture firm. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Difference-in-Differences Analysis of the Surgeon Incentive Program (SIP) in SIP-Eligible and Non–SIP-Eligible Counties
The dotted lines represent when the SIP began in 2011 and ended in 2015. At baseline in the prepolicy period, non–SIP-eligible counties had higher rates of general surgeons than SIP-eligible counties. The general surgeon density remained relatively constant across the study period.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Change in Surgeon Density in Eligible Counties During and After the Surgeon Incentive Program (SIP)
Orange and red areas demonstrate a decrease in surgeon density in select counties, while blue areas demonstrate an increase in surgeon density. Gray areas represent counties that experienced no change in surgeon density. The observed changes are heterogenous.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. What is shortage designation? Health Resources and Services Administration . Accessed April 22, 2024. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/workforce-shortage-areas/shortage-designation
    1. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HR 3590, 111th Cong (2009-2010). Pub L No. 111-148. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/3590
    1. Advocacy surgical workforce: reauthorization of the HPSA Surgical Incentive Payment Program. American College of Surgeons . Accessed May 7, 2024. https://www.facs.org/advocacy/federal-legislation/surgical-workforce/
    1. Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2023, S 1140, 118th Cong (2023-2024). Accessed May 7, 2024. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1140
    1. Schaefer SL, Dualeh SHA, Kunnath N, Scott JW, Ibrahim AM. Higher rates of emergency surgery, serious complications, and readmissions in primary care shortage areas, 2015-19. Health Aff (Millwood). 2024;43(3):363-371. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00843 - DOI - PubMed

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