Beyond counting heads: some methodological issues in measuring geographic distribution of physicians
Au-delà du simple dénombrement : quelques questions méthodologiques dans la mesure de la distribution géographique des médecins
Raymond W. Pong, J. Roger Pitblado
Details
ISSN Number: 12037796
Language: English/French
Format: PDF
Pages: 14–33
Content Summary
This article by Raymond W. Pong and J. Roger Pitblado examines the complexities in measuring the geographic distribution of physicians, emphasizing the limitations of the population-to-physician ratio. The authors argue that simply counting physicians is insufficient, as it fails to account for factors like hours worked, specialty mix, and the impact of gender and retirement on workforce availability. They highlight the importance of considering specialty and discipline substitution, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited. The article suggests using full-time equivalents (FTEs) as a more accurate measure of physician availability, acknowledging the challenges and limitations of current methodologies.