Thoracic surgery workforce: snapshot at the end of the twentieth century and implications for the new millennium

Background. An appropriately sized physician workforce is an essential component for healthcare planning. Contemporary economic forces and the impact of managed care have stimulated renewed interest in understanding and monitoring workforce issues. Methods. Between August and December of 1999, the Workforce Committee of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons conducted a survey detailing demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic practice characteristics of the membership. Results. The 2,515 returned surveys represented a 62.6% return rate (± 1.6% margin of error), providing a highly statistically valid sample. Active thoracic surgeons are a mean of 50 years old, 98% men, with a high level of career satisfaction. Length of training and educational debt has been escalating. Adult cardiac surgical case volumes have increased (mean, 225 cases) and 52% of adult cardiac surgeons perform general thoracic procedures. Surgeons work 67 hours/week and 47 weeks/year. Most are organized in single specialty groups (50%) in urban areas (59%) as for-profit corporations (77%). Half of the respondents will be retired a mean of 13 years from now corresponding to a median calendar year of 2011. Conclusions. This survey highlights significant workforce retirement during the next 10 to 15 years. Currently, the workforce in thoracic surgery appears “right sized.” These valuable data provide a profile of the specialty. The information enhances our ability to strategically plan.