In-hospital mortality rates for BSI caused by CASR A. baumannii were significantly higher than those for non-CASR A. baumannii-induced BSI (43% versus 20%; OR ؍ 3.0, 95% CI ؍ 1.60 to 5.23, P value < 0.001). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, the association between BSI caused by CASR A. baumannii and increased risk of in-hospital mortality was not significant (OR ؍ 1.15, 95% CI ؍ 0.51 to 2.63, P value ؍ 0.74). This study demonstrated that CASR A. baumannii had a distinct epidemiology compared to more susceptible A. baumannii strains; however, clinical outcomes were similar for the two groups. Admission with a rapidly fatal condition was an independent predictor for both CASR A. baumannii and in-hospital mortality.
Among many other things, the novel coronavirus pandemic of 2020 highlighted the significance of physician shortages in the United States. Current projections anticipate a national shortage of up to 122,000 physicians by 2032, with shortfalls in both primary care physicians and specialists. Yet while this figure highlights the magnitude of the problem, it does not capture the distributional aspect of American physician shortages. Though some specialties and geographic areas have a surplus of physicians, others have a chronic undersupply. Appropriately addressing the looming physician shortage therefore requires not only creating more physicians, but also ensuring that those physicians practice in the areas of greatest societal need. This review explores the nature of physician shortages in the United States, identifies the present bottleneck in physician training at the level of graduate medical education, and considers potential legislative and policy solutions to allow strategic and deliberate expansion of graduate medical education and physician practice.
Context
While existing data demonstrate that osteopathic physicians (ie, DOs) in primary care are more likely than allopathic physicians (ie, MDs) to practice in rural areas, no data exist on practice patterns of DO surgical subspecialists, such as ophthalmologists. Michigan has a relatively high number of DOs and, formerly, the most osteopathic ophthalmology residency programs in the United States. Analyzing the distribution of ophthalmologists in Michigan may reveal patterns and predict trends about the geographic distribution of DO surgical subspecialists across the country.
Objective
To compare geographic distributions of DO and MD ophthalmologists in Michigan and identify differences in community size and type (eg, urbanized area, urban cluster, or rural area) of practice.
Methods
A list of Michigan's ophthalmologists practicing in 2018 was developed using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association data sets. DOs and MDs were then analyzed by determining where each ophthalmologist practiced, identifying the size and type of community in which they practiced, and finally by comparing the percentage of DOs and MDs who practiced in various community sizes and each community type as defined by the US Census Bureau. An χ2 analysis was used to determine whether a difference existed in practice locations.
Results
A total of 643 ophthalmologists practiced in Michigan in 2018, including 85 DOs and 558 MDs. A greater proportion of DOs worked in rural areas and urban clusters (57 [67%]), whereas a greater proportion of MDs worked in urbanized areas (368 [66%]). Of DOs, 28 (33%) practiced in cities with a population of at least 50,000 vs 371 MDs (66%). Fourteen DOs (16%) practiced in communities with a population of at least 100,000 vs 207 MDs (37%). χ2 analysis showed a significant difference in the geographic distribution of ophthalmologist DOs and MDs (P<.01).
Conclusion
Higher proportions of DOs practice ophthalmology in smaller, more rural Michigan communities compared with MDs, implying that a subgroup exists that tends to serve underserved areas.
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