NUMBER of DENTISTS RELATIVE TO POPULATION, 1968 The number of dentists providing patient care to the civilian population in 1968 was 47 per 100,000. This ratio varied widely by State, however, ranging from a high of 67 in New York to a low of 22 in South Carolina. SouTRCE. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bureau of Health Professions Education and Manpower Training. Health Manpower Source Book, Section 20. NURSES The shortage of nurses is reaching a critical stage. Currently 145,000 more nurses are needed. By 1975, estimates indicate a need for one million professional nurses to provide effective nursing care. NUMBER OF NURSES AND NURSE-POPULATION RATIOS: SELECTED YEARS, 1949–68, ESTIMATES, 1%;-); Source: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and We'fare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bou, of Health Professions Education and Manpawer Training. Health Manpower Source Book, sec. 20 SHORTAGES IN OTHER HEALTH OCCUPATIONS Senator MAGNUSON. The subcommittee has received a memorandum from the National Institutes of Health indicating significant shortages in other health occupations. The memorandum will be inserted in the record. (The memorandum follows:) There are significant shortages in other health occupations. For example, in the professions of optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, the estimated aggregate requirement exceeds the current supply by over 20 percent, or some 35,500 personnel. Further, in the broad range of professional and tech: nical functions which comprise the allied health occupations, the shortages are so severe that they can be described only as critical. In 1967, allied health workers numbered approximately 654,000 and constituted 19 percent of the labor force in all health occupations. The allied health category had almost tripled in size since 1950 at which time its share of the total amounted to 15 percent. Even at the 1967 level, the supply fell short of requirements by nearly 200,000, or over 30 percent of the workers in these disciplines such as medical technology, dental hygiene, physical therapy, and radiologic technology. This estimate of shortage, however, is conservative because it makes no allowance for needs resulting from : (a) use of underqualified manpower in the absence of an adequate supply of qualified workers, and (b) unmet needs for services irrespective of our willingness or ability to pay for such services. Further, these are many factors which cannot be quantified but which indicate that we may expect more severe shortages in the future than exist now. Under the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1965, as amended and the Allied Health Professions Personnel Training Act of 1966, as amended schools of optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, and veterinary medicine, and allied health training centers are eligible for various types of grant support to assist them in training greater numbers of these professional health personnel. Insti. tutional support is available for improving teaching programs and increasing enrollments, developing and maintaining special functions of the schools, and constructing, replacing, or rehabilitating teaching facilities. Student assistant through loans and scholarships is provided in the health professions to help students pursuing the professional degree, while the allied health program offers traineeships for advanced training to prepare teachers, supervisors, administra’ tors, and specialists in their respective fields. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF CERTAIN DIVISIONS Senator MAGNUson. The subcommittee has received from the Na. tional Institutes of Health some information on the responsibilities and the organizational chart on certain divisions. The information and charts will be inserted in the record. (The information and charts follow :) DIVISION OF PHYSICIAN MANPOWER : Mission of Division--The Division of Physician Manpower is the Federal focus for programs dealing with our physician manpower resources. Its mission is o to increase the quality, number, and availability of doctors. It generates : medical education and the continuing education of physicians in practice and s: practicing physician. Grants and contracts are used to effectuate programs. o: Program officials maintain close liaison with medical and osteopathic schools * and with National medical and osteopathic organizations interested in recruitment, o education, and distribution of physicians. The Continuing Education Branch stimulates, develops and supports activities designed to keep physicians up to date with new knowledge and techniques in ° order to maintain the quality of patient care they dispense and lengthen the span of their effectiveness. Branch staff members provide consultation and io professional assistance in assessing the need, requirements, and quality of o continuing education programs. Extramural projects supported by this Branch ozo. aid in development of curriculum and teaching methods, in organization and evaluation of programs. The Physician Education Branch develops National programs to assist medical and osteopathic schools in improving the quality of educational programs and in * increasing output of physicians. The Branch serves as the primary Federal r?” focus on medical education. With the assistance of a non-governmental advisory group, the Branch staff provides the professional review of educational improvement grant applications received from schools of medicine and osteopathy. These schools seek assistance to alleviate financial and accreditation difficulties and to effect enrollment increases and curricula changes. Innovative concepts and techniques in medical education are fostered through negotiated contracts with schools and other non-profit institutions. o The Physician Resources Branch provides a clearinghouse for information concerned with the supply, distribution, and availability of the Nation's medical and osteopathic schools, graduates, and physicians. It conducts statistical studies and makes evaluations relating to National health manpower needs, trends, and costs. The Professional Activities Branch develops and supports studies of the effectiveness, distribution and productivity of medical and osteopathic manpower in relation to requirements for education and training, and keeps abreast of developments in the delivery of health services and evaluates implications with respect to the curricula of medical and osteopathic schools. Studies and collection and evaluation of information include changes in patterns of practice, innovations in procedures and equipment for the improvement of physician effectiveness, the development and training of different levels of assistants to * the physician, and the role of specialty groups in relation to undergraduate so and continuing education requirements. Further, the Branch provides consultation and technical support in the above are as and acts as a clearinghouse for technical information. |