Vascular surgical manpower. Too much? Enough? Too little? Unknown?
I. M. Rutkow and C. B. Ernst
To determine vascular surgical rates and respective manpower requirements
in the United States, data from the National Center for Health Statistics
and the national and regional vascular societies were reviewed. Vascular
operative rates increased 117% during the study period, 1970 through 1978.
How long these increases will continue is unknown. In 1982, approximately
1,900 surgeons hold membership in the 18 regional and national vascular
societies. How many of these surgeons actively practice vascular surgery is
not known. How many nonvascular society surgeons perform arterial
reconstructive procedures is also unknown. Currently, approximately 57
fellows are graduated yearly from 42 training programs in vascular surgery.
How these figures will change or how they should change in the future has
not been defined. Uncertainties of existing vascular manpower data make it
impossible to predict future needs, and past forecast attempts must be
regarded with skepticism. Clearly, an accurate date base is necessary for
rational planning. Therefore, it is suggested that established vascular
organizations assume responsibility to obtain such information so that
future manpower requirements may be identified.