Physician workforce 1996

The Joint Board of Family Practice $F+$S-tate of Georgia
A

PHYSICIAN PROFILE
1996 Toward the Year 2000
Distribution of Physicians*, U.S. 1995
per 100,000 population

The bi-annual monitoring and understanding of the physician workforce provides for the examination of the geographic distribution of physicians in Georgia. This analysis offers an important tool to (1) determine funding for residency programs (Graduate Medical
Education), (2) identify areas of need, (3) plan for health services, (4) locate facilities, and (5) monitor the number.of practicing physicians. Essentially, the
national and state overview shown in this workforce analysis indicates a continual maldistribution problem,
however, for the first time in Georgia we are beginning to experience a surplus of physicians in many
specialties.

Physician Supply
Georgia vs. United States
Rate per 100,000 350

For the'first time in Georgia history we are above the GMENAC standard of 191, the most liberal standard
available. However, in 1996 there were not enough physicians in the majority of Georgia counties to meet the demand for medical services. The estimated population for the year 2000 will be 7,703,202, an increase of 494,030 from 1996. Applying the Graduate
Medical Education National Advisory Committee (GMENAC) standard of 191 physicians per 100,000 population, an additional 868 medical doctors will be needed to provide services to the people of Georgia by the year 2000. However, by the year 2000 we are
expected to add approximately 2,250 new physicians based on current trends. The result will be a surplus of physicians.

MALDISTRIBUTION OF PHYSICIANS
PHYSICIANS IN GEORGIA
Rate* ,Selected Specialties,Urban/Rural, 1990-1996

1992

1990

2 1

1992

22

12

119

196

1992
* Rates are per 100,000 population

164
** Totals may not equal, due to rounding.

Generalists vs. Specialists
The number of generalists decreased from 39% in 1986 to 33% in 1996. However, the 1996 percentage for generalists compared to 1994 increased by two percent.
Rates for all specialties and areas increased between 1994 and 1996. However, for Family Physicians, Pediatricians, and General Surgeons in rural areas and for "other specialties" in urban areas, the rates did not improve.
There has been an increase of "other specialists" in the last ten years, however the percentage did decrease for the first time from 1994 to 1996.

Family Practice Pediatrics

Internal Medicine

-

IDI OBIGYN

General Surgery El Other Specialties

1986

1990

1992

1994

* Line represents the split between generalists and specialists.

1996

1996 GMENAC REQUIREMENTS

GMENAC standard = 191 physicians per 100,000 population
Below Standard Above Standard

Sixty-five percent of all physicians are located in the eight counties with a population greater than 150,000, which represents 43% of the state's population.

Only 15 of Georgia's 159 counties are above the GMENAC standard of 191 physicians per 100,000 population. They are:

1. Baldwin 2. Bibb 3. Chatham 4. Clarke 5. DeKalb
6. Dougherty 7. Floyd
8. Fulton

9. Glynn 10. Hall 11. Muscogee 12. Pulaski 13. Richmond
14. Thomas 15. Tift

In 1996, Georgia's physician rate per 100,000population was 192; compared to the rate of 156 in 1990. For the first time in Georgia workforce history the rate is above the GMENAC standard of 191 per
100,000 population.

0 YEAR TRACK OF PHYSICIANS IN GEORGIA, 1986 TO 1996

In Georgia, between 1986 & 1996 there was:
A 50.4% increase in the number of Pediatricians from 641 to 964; an increase in OBIGYN of 49.2% (an increase of 294 physicians); and a 54.3% increase in the total number of physicians.
The slowest growing specialtiesbetween 1986 and 1996 were Family Practice (41%), General Surgery (22%), and Internal Medicine (13%). Internal Medicine has made a remarkable recovery since the major decrease of 1990. Since 1990, Internal Medicine has grown by 50%.

2,500

I0,WO

TOTAL NUMBER

OF PHYSICIANS

1986 = 8.975

Family Practice OBIGYN

Pediatrics Internal Medicine General Surgery
PROJECTED SUPPLY 1998 = 14,981 2000= 16,117

Other specialties

PHYSICIANS BY SPECIALTY

TOTAL PHYSICIANS BY SPECIALTY, GEORGIA, 1996
Number, Rate, and Practice Counties*

SPECIALTY
Abdominal Surgery Adolescent Medicine Aerospace Medicine Allergy Allergy and Immunology Anesthesiology Bloodbanking Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular Surgery Child Neurology Child Psychiatry Clinical Pathology Clinical Pharmacology Colon and Rectal Surgery Dermatology Dermatopathology Diabetes Diagnostic Radiology Emergency Medicine Endocrinology FamilyIGeneral Practice Forensic Pathology Gastroenterology General Preventive Medicine General Surgery Geriatrics Gynecology Hand Surgery Head and Neck Surgery Hematology Hypnosis Immunology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine
Laryngolog~ Legal Medicine Maxillofacial Surgery Naturopathology Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Neoplastic Diseases

NUMBER OF RATE PER PRACTICE PHYSICIANS 100,000 COUNTIES

SPECIALTY

NUMBER OF RATE PER PRACTICE PHYSICIANS 100,000 COUNTIES

6

0.08

13

0.18

5 Nephrology 10 Neurological Surgery

109

1.51

29

111

1.54

19

15

0.21

42

0.58

8 Neurology 13 Nuclear Medicine

243

3.37

3 5

12

0.17

4

29

0.40

10 Nuclear Radiology

1

0.01

1

737

10.22

62 Nutrition

8

0.11

5

6

0.08

3 Obstetrics and Gynecology

883

12.25

67

393

5.45

39 Obstetrics

8

0.11

6

74

1.03

12 Occupational Medicine

86

1.19

18

12

0.17

6 Oncology

122

1.69

28

44

0.61

11 Ophthalmology

373

5.17

42

14

0.19

6 Orthopedic Surgery

549

7.62

62

1

0.01

1 Other

89

1.23

20

45

0.62

10 Otology

7

0.10

6

215

2.98

38 Otorhinolaryngology

206

2.86

40

10

0.14

5 Pathology

317

4.40

47

16

0.22

7 Pediatrics

964

13.37

77

300

4.16

48 Pediatric Allergy

5

0.07

5

565

7.84

92 Pediatric Endocrinology

6

0.08

4

72

1.OO

15 Pediatric Hematology-Oncolog

16

0.22

5

1,894

26.27

151 Pediatric Nephrology

3

0.04

2

12

0.17

6 Pediatric Radiology

3

0.04

2

197

2.73

34 Pediatric Surgery

15

0.21

6

38

0.53

7 Physical Medicine and Rehab.

95

1.32

17

69 1

9.59

94 Plastic Surgery

146

2.03

22

16

0.22

8 Psychiatry

823

11.42

54

181

2.51

37 Psychoanalysis

14

0.19

5

9

0.12

8 Psychosomatic Medicine

8

0.11

6

5

0.07

3 Public Health

116

1.61

16

26

0.36

9 Pulmonary Diseases

146

2.03

3 0

4

0.06

3 Radioisotopic Radiology

0

0.00

0

1

0.01

1 Radiology

370

5.13

57

99

1.37

12 Rheumatology

60

0.83

14

1,718

23.83

117 Rhinology

0

0.00

0

2

0.03

2 Therapeutic Radiology

70

0.97

23

4

0.06

3 Thoracic Surgery

3 5

0.49

16

6

0.08

5 Traumatic Surgery

2

0.03

2

1

0.01

1 Urological Surgery

248

3.44

48

56

0.78

11

7

0.10

6 STATETOTAL

13,845

192.05

159

RANK ORDER OF TOP 10 SPECIALTIES, GEORGIA, 1996
Number, Rate, and Practice Counties*

SPECIALTY

PRACTICE NUMBER RATE COUNTIES

SPECIALTY

PRACTICE NUMBER RATE COUNTIES

1. FamilyIGeneral Practice

1,894

26.3

151

6. Anesthesiology

737

10.2

62

2. Internal Medicine

1,718

23.8

117

7. General Surgery

69 1

9.6

94

3. Pediatrics

964

13.4

77

8. Emergency Medicine

565

7.8

92

4. Obstetrics and Gyn.

89 1

12.4

73

9. Orthopedic Surgery

549

7.6

62

5. Psychiatry

823

11.4

54

10. Cardiovascular Diseases

393

5.5

12

* Represents the number of counties for that practice specialty. For example, Family Physicians practice in 151 of the 159 counties, or there are 8 counties without a
Family Practitioner.

PHYSICIANS B Y SPECIAL TY
PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY, 1996 *
Number and Ranked Percent of Total in Each Specialty

SPECIALTY

#

Yo

SPECIALTY

#

Yo

SPECIALTY

#

Yo

Psychosomatic Medicine

Ophthalmology

General Preventive Med.

10 26.3

Allergy

Neurological Surgery

Dermatology

56

26.0

Pediatric Surgery

Emergency Medicine

Pulmonarv Diseases

38 26.0

Allergy and Immunology

Plastic Surgery

General Surgery

179 25.9

Nephrology

Orthopedic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

9

25.7

Oncology

Hematology

Pathology

80 25.2

Neonatal-Perinatal Med.

Diagnostic Radiology

Gynecology

42 23.2

Diabetes

Other

Cardiovascular Diseases

Infectious Disease

Child Neurology

Psychiatry

Forensic Pathology

Physical Med. and Rehab.

Anesthesiology

129 17.5

Therapeutic Radiology

Child Psychiatry

Public Health

19 16.4

Urological Surgery
Radiolog"v.
10torhinolaryngology

Colon and Rectal Surgery

80

1 Rheumatolo-m.
38.8 Obstetrics and Gyn.

Cardiovascular Surgery
1 248 27.8

11 14.9

Neurology

94 38.7 Endocrinology

20 27.8

-Gastroenterology

7 5 38.1 Pediatrics

255 26.5 STATE TOTAL

3,859 27.9

* Interpretation:19.7%or 338 of all Internal Medicine physicians practice in more than one county Specialties are not listed if less than five physicians practice in

multiple counties.

All S~ecialties

Accepting Medicare and Medicaid *

100

100

DEMOGRAPHICS
Gender

80

SO

60

40

20

20

0
Medicare * Response rate was 98.3%for both.

Medicaid

0

Race

Male

Female

DEMOGRAPHICS
Distribution by Age and Specialty
TOTAL PHYSICIANS
25

Specialties
I

Less than 35

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65 and over

25 20 15 10
5 0
Less than 35

35-39

FAMILY PRACTICE

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

I

60-64

65 and over

20 15 10 5 0
Less than 35

35-39

INTERNAL MEDICINE

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

I

60-64

65 and over

Specialties

DEMOGRAPHICS
Distribution by Age and Specialty
PEDIATRICS

20 15 10 5 0
Less than 35

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65 and over

20 15 10 5 0
Less than 35

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65 and over

GENERAL SURGERY

25

20 -

17.1%

FAMIL Y PRACTICE
PROFILE

Physician Need 1996 'I'

Physician Need 1994")

Between 1992 and 1996 there was an increase in the number of counties not needing additional Family Practice physicians. In 1992,there were 39 counties that did not need additional physicians, in 1994,there were 54 counties, and in 1996, there were 58.
Family Practice has increased by approximately 55 physicians per year in the last ten years (1986-1996).

More Physicians Counties Needing More Physicians
Physician Need 1992 (I)

) Need Based on Joint Board of Family Practice recornendation of 1 to 3,000.

.To achieve a standard of
one Family Physician per 3,000 persons, an additional 674 physicians will be needed by the year
2000. This increase will require approximately 170 more physicians per year for the next four years.
Whereas, normal growth will probably add 75
physicians per year during the next four years. This is one of the few specialties where a deficit is projected by the year 2000.

PHYSICIAN NEED 2000

Family Practice
Supply vs. Requirements*

In Georgia, comparing the projected supply and the requirement for Family Practice
physicians in the year 2000, it is apparent a deficit will exist. Utilizing the standard of
one Family Practice physician per 3,000 population, this translates into an
approximate need of 500 physicians. Current growth indicates we would add about 75 Family Practitioners to the need
in Georgia per year. To meet the projected
requirement we would need to add about 170 Family Practice physicians per year, or an increase of 95 over the current growth rate. Thus, by 2000, the projection suggests a deficit of 380 Family Practitioners.

2,500
27000
1,500 1,000
500
o 1986

FAMILY PRACTICE NEED (by Area)

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Supply Projected Supply Projected ~ e ~ u i r e m e n t *
* Requirement based on growth standard of 1:3,000

COUNTY POPULATION

NUMBER OF COUNTIES

2000 OBJECTIVE (minus)

STATE TOTAL

0 - 9,999 10,000 - 19,999 20,000 - 49,999 50,000 - 149,999
Over 150,000

40

89

45

225

4 1

423

25

71 1

8

1120

METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)

TOTAL

41

1772

Albany Athens Atlanta Augusta Chattanooga Columbus Macon Savannah

2

4 1

3

50

20

1253

2

101

3

43

3

79

5

105

3

100

NON-MSA

TOTAL

118

796

Northwest Northeast Central Southwest Southeast

16

176

17

136

42

175

22

144

21

165

1996 SUPPLY
87 197 339 477 794
1217
27 3 0 708 110 3 0 107 123 82
677
160 117 163 124 113

(equals)
- -
-
- -
- - -
- - -
-
- - -

NUMBER NEEDED
2 2 8 84 234 326
17
14 20 545 -9 13 -28 -18
18
1 -
16 19 12 20 52

Family Practice

PHYSICIAN NEED

ADDITIONAL PHYSICIANS NEEDED BY THE YEAR 2000"

NUMBER NEEDED

U O n e to Four QFive to Nine
Greater than Nine

u
* Based on Standard of 1:3,000

Of the 2,568 Family Practice physicians needed by the year 2000, 1,772 (69%) are projected to be needed in metropolitan statistical areas.
An additional 796 (3 1% of the total need) Family Practice physicians will be needed in non-metropolitan statistical areas.
Within the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area, an additonal 545 Family Practice physicians will be needed to serve the growing population.

TOP 10 COUNTIES IN NEED

Between 1996 and 2000, a 35%

increase in the number of Family Practice physicians is projected.
Counties are ranked in descending order (2000 objective minus 1996

I 1 COBB

1

1 I 2 DEKALB

I 3 GWINNETT I

supply). Cobb County will need 113 1 4 FULTON I

additional Family Practitioners by the year 2000, making it the county

1 I 5 CLAYTON

with the greatest need.

1 6 CHEROKEE I

Currently, there are eight counties without a Family Practice physician. Further, these counties could be considered as having a greater need than the counties which do have a physician, but show a deficit.

1 I 7 DOUGLAS
I 8 HENRY 1
1 9 COWETA
110 PAULDING 1

1996 SUPPLY

2000

NEEDED BY

OBJECTIVE

2000

DEMOGRAPHICS

Familv Practice Y

FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIANS (by Average Age)

The average age of Family Practice physicians in Georgia in the past ten years (1986-1996) has remained constant (48 years old).
Family Practice physicians, 55 years and older, account for 27% (511) of all Family Physicians in Georgia.
In Georgia, there are eight counties that do not have a Family Practice physician. However, it is possible that some physicians do practice in those counties that do not have a resident physician.
In the last ten years (1986-1996) the average age of Family Practice physicians in metropolitan statistical areas increased slightly from 47 to 48 years old. In non-metropolitan statistical areas, the average age increased fiom 50 to 52 years.

I

* 1 No physician in the county

FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIANS (by Gender)

PERCENT
* Thirteen physicians failed to respond.

Family Practice

DEMOGRAPHICS

FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIANS (by Race)

Black 11.2%

The percentage of white Family Practice physicians decreased slightly from 1992 to 1996.
The percentage of black Family Practice physicians increased from 9.8% in 1992 to 11.2% in 1996.
From 1992 to 1996, a higher percentage of Asian Family Practice physicians practiced in nonmetropolitan statistical areas than in metropolitan statistical areas.

UTILIZATION

Familv Practice

PHYSICIANS ACCEPTING MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND O.B. PATIENTS

MEDICAID

I I

MEDICARE

I I

OBSTETRICS

I

~l~~~~~

MSA

TOTAL
1986 1990

1 1482

MEDICAID

I

65.1%

67.8%

MEDICARE 81.7% 82.3%

OBSTETRICS 2 1.O% 14.7%

% Change
The percentage of Family Practice physicians accepting Medicaid and Medicare patients was higher in rural areas than in urban areas.
A higher percentage of Family Practice physicians in metropolitan statistical areas accepted Medicare compared to Medicaid, whereas in non-metropolitan areas the difference in percentage of Medicaid and Medicare was minimal.
There was a 3.6% increase in Obstetric patients seen by Family Practice physicians from 1994 to 1996,but an overall decrease in the last 10 years (1986-1996).
ACCEPTING MEDICAID, MEDICARE, AND OB PATIENTS
2,000

"
Medicaid

Medicare

Obstetrics

INTERNAL MEDICINE
PROFILE

TOP TWENTY COUNTIES BY NUMBER
OF INTERNISTS *

f

\

RANK

Of the top twenty counties by number for Internists, only five counties are in rural areas.
In Georgia, 42 of the state's 159 counties do not have an Internist practicing full-time in the county.

1. Fulton (433)* *
2. DeKalb (269) 3. Richmond (147) 4. Cobb (96) 5. Chatham (76) 6. Bibb (52) 7. Gwinnett (51) 8. Clayton (35) 9. Muscogee (34) 10. Dougherty (29) 11. Fayette (22) 12. Floyd (21) 13. Ha11 (20) 14. Clarke (17) 15. Rockdale (16) 16. Douglas (15) 17. Glynn (14) 18. s ~ a l d i n g(13) 19. Tift (13) 20. Coweta (12)

* Numbers correspond to county code.

L

J

** Numbers in parentheses represent the number of physicians.

Supply vs. Requirement

S u p p l y Projected Supply UProjected Requirement

Applying the GMENAC standard of one Internist per 3,500 persons, a total of 2,201 doctors will be needed in Georgia by the year 2000.
In the ten year period (1986-1936), the number of Internists in Georgia increased 13.2%.
In accordance with the GMENAC standard, by the year 2000, 121 more Internists will need to be added each year. At current growth rates, Georgia will add approximately 638 Internist by the year 2000. The result will be a surplus by the year 2000.

INTERNAL MEDICINE NEED (by Area)

COUNTY POPULATION

NUMBER OF COUNTIES

2000 OBJECTIVE

STATE TOTAL

159

220 1

0 - 9,999

40

76

10,000 - 19,999

45

193

20,000 - 49,999

4 1

3 62

50,000 - 149,999

25

610

Over 150,000

8

960

METROPOLITAN STATISTICALAREA (MSA)

TOTAL

4 1

1519

Albany Athens Atlanta Augusta Chattanooga Columbus Macon Savannah

2

35

3

43

20

1074

2

86

3

3 7

3

68

5

90

3

86

NON-MSA

TOTAL

118

682

Northwest Northeast Central Southwest Southeast

16

151

17

117

42

150

22

123

21

141

(minus)

Internal Medicine

1996 SUPPLY
1718
19 59 159 330 1151
1410
30 18 1023 154 5 3 6 65 79

(equals)
- -
- -
-
- - -

NUMBER

NEEDED
\

I

483 1

57 134 203 280 -191

-

---

-

-

I I 109

-

5

- -

25

-

5 1

- -

-68

-

32

- -

32

- -

25

-

7

308

- -

I

374 I

73

-

78

57

-

60

60

-

90

57

-

66

6 1

- -

80

INTERNISTS (by Gender)
NUMBER *

0 loo

l

O

0

I

PERCENT

GENDER MSA NON-MSA

Male

1996 76.0% 90.8%

1994 79.2%
+
Female

90.0%

1996 24.0%

9.2%

1994 20.8%

10.0%

* Sixteen physicians failed to respond.

PEDIA T N C S
PROFILE

A FULL-TIME PEDIATRICIAN

TOP TWENTY COUNTIES BY
NUMBER OF PEDIATRICIANS *

Of the top twenty counties by number for Pediatricians, only six counties are in rural areas.
In Georgia, 82 of the state's 159 counties do not have a Pediatrician practicing full-time in the county.

20. Rockdale (7)
* Numbers correspond to county code.

**Numbers in parentheses represent the number of physicians.
Supply vs. Requirement

S u p p l y Projected Supply Projected Requirement

Applying the GMENAC standard of one Pediatrician per 8,000 persons, a total of 963 doctors will be needed in Georgia by the year 2000.
In the ten year period (1986-1996),the number of Pediatricians in Georgia increased 50%.
In 1996,the number of Pediatricians exceeded the GMENAC standard for the year 2000 by one physician. By 2000, it is projected we will have 1,252 Pediatricians or an excess of 289.

PEDIATRIC NEED (by Area)

COUNTY POPULATION

NUMBER OF COUNTIES

2000 OBJECTIVE

STATE TOTAL

159

963

0 - 9,999
10,000 - 19,999 20,000 - 49,999
50,000 - 149,999
Over 150.000

METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)

TOTAL

41

664

Albany Athens Atlanta Augusta Chattanooga Columbus Macon Savannah

2

15

3

19

20

470

2

38

3

16

3

29

5

3 9

3

3 8

NON-MSA

-

-

-

TOTAL

118

299

Northwest Northeast Central Southwest Southeast

16

66

17

5 1

42

66

22

54

21

62

(minus)

1996 SUPPLY
964
832 19 16
624 85 4 20 3 0 34
132 27 23 26 26 30

Pediatrics

(equals) - -

NUMBER NEEDED
I -1 I

-
-

I -168

-

-4

- -

3

- -

-154

- -

-47

- -

12

- -

9

- -

9

-
-

4

----

-

-

I 167 I

-

3 9

- -

28

-

40

-

28

-

32

PEDIATRICIANS (by Gender)

NUMBER *

86.5%

PERCENT

MSA NON-MSA

Male

1996 56.2% 67.4%

1994 60.4% 70.5%

Female

1996 43.8% 1994 39.6%

, 32.6%
29.5%

* Nine physicians failed to respond.

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
PROFILE

f COUNTIES WITHOUT \ A FULL-TIME OBIGYN
o f the top twenty counties by number for OBIGYN, only six counties are in rural areas.

RANK

* TOP TWENTY COUNTIES BY NUMBER OF OB/GYNts *

Fulton (230)** DeKalb (79) Richmond (76: Cobb (54) Chatham (43) Gwinnett (4 1) Bibb (39) Clayton (23) Clarke (20) Dougherty (1 8'1 Floyd (16) Ha11 (1 6) Muscogee (16: Houston (1 3) Whitfield (1 3) Fayette (1 0) Douglas (9) Lowndes (9) Troup (9) Baldwin (8)

In Georgia, 92 of the state's 159 counties do not have an OBIGYN physician practicing full-time.

I

I

* Numbers correspond to county code.

I ** Numbers in pareheres represent the number of physicians.

'I II

Supply vs. Requirement

S u p p l y OProjected Supply UProjected Requirement

Applying the GMENAC standard of one OBIGYN per 10,000 persons, a total of 770 doctors will be needed in Georgia by the year 2000.
In the ten year period (1986-1996), the number of OBIGYN physicians in Georgia increased 49%.
In 1996, the number of OB/GYNtsexceeded the GMENAC standard for the year 2000 by 121 physicians. By 2000, the projected growth could produce an excess of 283 OB/GYN1s.

Obstetrics & Gynecology

OBIGYN NEED (by Area)

COUNTY POPULATION
:
STATE TOTAL
0 - 9,999
10,000 - 19,999 20,000 - 49,999
50,000 - 149,999
Over 150,000

NUMBER OF COUNTIES
159
40 45 4 1 25
8

2000 OBJECTlVE
770
27 67 127 213 336

METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)

TOTAL

41

53 1

Albany Athens Atlanta Augusta Chattanooga Columbus Macon Savannah

NON-MSA

TOTAL

Northwest Northeast Central Southwest

(minus)

1996 SUPPLY
89 1
9 11 83 226 562

726

- --

(equals)
-
- -
- - -
-

NUMBER NEEDED
I -121 I
18 56 44 -13 -226
I -195 1

OBIGYN PHYSICIANS (by Gender)

NUMBER *

GENDER , MSA NON-MSA Male

1996 523

144

1994 500

129

0 loo

1996 195

2 1

1994 162

15

PERCENT

72.8% 87.3%

* Eight physicians failed to respond.

GENERAL SURGERY
PROFILE

1
TIME GENERAL SURGE
Of the top twenty counties by number for General Surgeons, only eight counties are in rural areas. In Georgia, 65 of the state's 159 counties do not have a General Surgeon practicing full-time.

* TOP TWENTY COUNTIES BY
NUMBER OF GENERAL SURGEONS

*

RANK

Fulton (137)** DeKalb (7 1) Richmond (57) Cobb (39) Bibb (35) Chatham (32) Clayton (19) Gwinnett (18) Muscogee (16) Ha11 (14) Coweta (13) Clarke (12) Dougherty (1 1: Floyd (10) Glynn (10) Lowndes (9) Baldwin (8) Whitfield (8)
Henry (6) Houston (6)

* Numbers correspond to county code.

L

J

** Numbers in parentheses represent the number of physicians.

Supply vs. Requirements

S u p p l y Projected Supply Projected Requirement

Applying the GMENAC standard of one General Surgeon per 10,000 persons, a total of 770 doctors will be needed in Georgia by the year 2000.
In the ten year period (1986-1996), the number of General Surgeons in Georgia increased 22%.
In accordance with the GMENAC standard, by the year 2000, approximately 20 General Surgeons will need to be added each year. By 2000, the number of General Surgeons will exceed the GMENAC standard by approximately nine physicians.

GENERAL SURGEON NEED (by Area)

COUNTY POPULATION

-

-

-

-

-

NUMBER OF

2000

COUNTIES

OBECTIVE

STATE TOTAL

0 - 9,999

40

27

10,000 - 19,999

45

67

20,000 - 49,999

4 1

127

50,000 - 149,999

25

213

Over 150,000

8

336

METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)

TOTAL

Albany Athens Atlanta Augusta Chattanooga Columbus Macon Savannah

2

12

3

15

20

3 76

2

3 0

3

13

3

24

5

3 1

3

3 0

NON-MSA

TOTAL

118

239

Northwest Northeast Central Southwest Southeast

16

53

17

4 1

42

52

22

43

21

50

(minus)

General Surperv

1996 SUPPLY

(equals)

10

-

27

-

90

- -

175

-

3 89

- -

NUMBER NEEDED
17 40 3 7 38 -53

11

-

12

- -

338

- -

59

- -

4

- -

17

-

41

-

33

- -

176

- -

3 7

-

3 0

-

3 6

-

3 5

-

3 8

-

1 3 38 -29 9 7 -10 -3
63 1
16 11 16 8 12

SURGEONS (by Gender)
NUMBER *

PERCENT

GENDER MSA NON-MSA Male

1996 94.9% 97.7%

1994 95.1% 98.3%

Female

1996 5.1%

2.3%

1994 4.9%

1.7%

* Four physicians failed to respond.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Primary Care

PHYSICIANS BY SPECIALTY BY COUNTY, GEORGIA, 1996
Number, Rate and Rank

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Priman, Care

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Primarv Care

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Primarv Care

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Primarv Care

(1) Source: State Board of Medical Examiners, Georgia Physician Survey, 1996 (2) Rate per 100,000 people (3) Ranked by Rate

Northwest Geo

GEORGIA
0Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA)
Non-Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Southwest Geor

PHYSICIAN NEED BASED ON SELECTED RATIOS, GEORGIA

GMENAC (Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee) standards for physicians:
1:4,000 for Family Physicians *
1:3,500 for Internists 1:8,000 for Pediatricians 1:10,000 for OBIGYN 1:10,000 for General Surgeons.
* The Joint Board of Family
Practice has recommended the standard of 1:3,000.

SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SOURCES:
Joint Board of Family Practice, Physician Projile, Toward the Year 2000, March, 1991; December, 1993; andApril, 1995. Joint Board of Family Practice, Family Practice Physician Projile, Toward the Year 2000, March 1991. Joint Board of Family Practice, OB/GYN Physician Profie, Toward the Year 2000, March, 1991. State Composite Board of Medical Examiners, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1996 Physician Licensure data. Joint Board of Family Practice, State Board of Medical Examiners and Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia Physician Survey, 1990, September, 1990. Joint Board of Family Practice, Quality of Life and the Distribution of Physicians in Georgia: A Disturbing Paradox, December, 1989. Georgia Office of Planning and Budget, 1996 and 2000 Population Projections. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, GraduateMedical Education National Advisory Committee (GMENAC) Summary Report, Washington, D. C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1980. U S . Department of Health and Human Services, GraduateMedical Education National Advisory Committee (GMENAC) Summary Report, Washington Government Printing Office, 1981 Pub. No. (HRA)pp. 81-651. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Centersfor Disease Control, Health, UnitedStates, 1991 and Prevention Projile, Table 96, pp. 243-244.
.National Center of Health Statistics, Health, UnitedStates, 1993, Hyattsville, Maryland; Public Health Service, 1994, pp. 200-201.
American Medical Association. Physician Characteristicsand Distribution in the U.S. (1996-97 Edition).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Appreciation to Andrew Watry, Executive Director, State Composite Board of Medical Examiners, for his support of these efforts. Thanks to Donna Brantley of the Joint 'Board of Family Practice for preparing tables, charts and maps.
Physician Workforce - 1996
Toward the Year 2000 Prepared by:
G. E. Alan Dever, Ph.D., M.T. Associate Dean for Primary Care Mercer University School of Medicine
Colette Sprinkel, M.A., Instructor Mercer University School of Medicine
August, 1997

Joint Board of Family Practice
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