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Who Serves Where: A Geospatial Analysis of Access to Endocrine Surgeons in the United States and Puerto Rico.
- Source :
-
Surgery [Surgery] 2024 Jan; Vol. 175 (1), pp. 32-40. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 05. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: The association between surgical volume and patient outcome is well established, with higher case volume associated with a lower risk of complications. We hypothesized that the geographic distribution of endocrine/head and neck surgeons with an endocrine focus in the United States and Puerto Rico may limit access to many potential patients, particularly in rural areas.<br />Methods: We used web-based directories from the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery to identify endocrine surgery specialists in the United States and Puerto Rico. Using geographic coordinates and OpenStreetMap and Valhalla software, we calculated the areas within a 60-, 90-, or 120-minute driving distance from specialist offices. We used 2020 U.S. Census Data to calculate census tract populations inside or outside the accessible areas.<br />Results: Excluding duplicate providers across organizations, we geocoded 603 specialist addresses in the United States and Puerto. We found that 23.76% (78.3 million) of Americans do not have access to a society-affiliated endocrine/head and neck surgeon with an endocrine focus within a 60-minute drive, 14.37% (47.4 million) within a 90-minute drive, and 8.38% (27.6 million) within a 120-minute drive. We observed that the areas of coverage are primarily focused on metropolitan areas.<br />Conclusion: Nearly one-third of Americans do not have access to a society-affiliated endocrine/head and neck surgeon with an endocrine focus within a 1-hour drive, highlighting a concerning geographic barrier to care. Further work is needed to facilitate patient access and mitigate disparities in quality care.<br /> (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- United States
Humans
Puerto Rico
Quality of Health Care
Surgeons
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1532-7361
- Volume :
- 175
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Surgery
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37935597
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2023.06.055