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Define Community "Need"
Does the United States Government Agree?
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) State Health Workforce Data Resource Guide determining Physician Need is not a quick or simple exercise.
The government publication describes several different methods and models to use, and annotates that discussion with respective data sources, strengths, and weaknesses. The Guide also cautions about potential problems with supply data and recommends the use of experts familiar with the data and its limitations.
It is generally recognized that the health care marketplace has a number of shortcomings that lead to the imbalances witnessed in communities. Evaluating physician “Need” simply by counting physicians and comparing it to the population census is not an accurate assessment.
A whole host of questions need to be explored in order to capture and fully appreciate the changing dynamics of each respective community.
Some of the questions to explore:
Is the supply of physicians adequate to meet the patient volume today and in three to five years?
Do the physicians have the right set of skills and training to provide high quality care?
How old is the physician workforce? Are doctors retiring, leaving practice, working part-time, restricting their practice?
Do the physicians reflect the cultural and racial makeup of the population?
Are there any geographical, language, or economic barriers limiting access?
Is there a particular population, health care setting, or health problem that isn’t adequately covered?
Are any physicians suspended, hospital based only, or have changed practice specialty or scope?
What areas has the local government designated?
