Maryland is experiencing "critical shortages of qualified surgeons," particularly in rural areas, according to the findings of a 2007 study that lead author Scott E. Maizel, MD, FACS, says is "emblematic of a national trend that has seen significant erosion in the number of doctors per capita."
Dr. Maizel, a breast surgeon at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and colleagues examined the clinical activity of neurosurgeons, urologists and general, orthopedic, ENT, vascular and noncardiac thoracic surgeons across Maryland at the request of the governor. They found that the number of practicing, licensed surgeons per 100,000 residents in 2007 "was below reported requirements" in three areas: general, vascular and noncardiac surgery. Some rural regions of the state had few, if any, surgical specialists, while specialists practicing in metropolitan areas were actively engaged in non-clinical responsibilities, such as administrative, teaching and research duties. About 40 percent of the state’s surgeons were aged 55 or older.
In a press release announcing the findings, the American College of Surgeons notes that while the United States population has grown by about 50 million people over the past 20 years, the number of practicing physicians has remained constant. "Unless state and federal lawmakers address this issue soon," says Dr. Maizel, "there will undoubtedly be a crisis in the access to surgical care for the residents of Maryland and beyond long before 2020."
Dr. Maizel’s research, which was sponsored by the Maryland Hospital Association and the State Medical Society of Maryland, was published last month in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
—Irene Tsikitas
