Abstract

Health Care Workforce Collocation Patterns in the US
Track: Health and Human Services
Authors: Imam Xierali

Health care workforce tends to agglomerate in certain patterns, resulting in significant spatial mal-distribution relative to underlying population. This study examines the collocation pattern of direct patient care physicians, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Physician Assistants (PAs) in the US. We use individual practice addresses from 2008 AMA Masterfile and 2008 National Provider Identifier database to study variation in collocation patterns among health care workforce to untangle the mal-distribution conundrum. Preliminary results suggest significant variations in physician and NP/PA collocation patterns: 30% of Primary Care Physicians (PCP) practice only with another PCP; 11% of PCPs practice along with at least one NP and / or one PA; 39% of PCPs practice with at least one sub-specialists; 14.4% of NP practice only with other NPs; whereas 8% of PA practice only with other PA. Collocating patterns also vary significantly along other important dimensions, including the urban-rural continuum, and across states and regions.

Imam Xierali
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E-mail: ixierali@aafp.org