Urologists Delaying Retirement

LINTHICUM, Md., April 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 30 percent of the 11,990 practicing urologists in the United States are delaying retirement until at least 71 years of age, compared to 22.7 percent a year ago. According to the American Urological Association's (AUA) 2015 Annual Census, more than 3,400 urologists plan to fully retire after the age of 70, an increase from the 2,500 who reported the same just one year ago. These findings further confirm existing data demonstrating the aging population's increasing demand, and potential impact, on the overall urology workforce. 

The AUA Annual Census presents a comprehensive portrayal of the urologic workforce in the United States, with analysis published in the 2015 report, The State of the Urology Workforce and Practice in the United States, which also includes up-to-date information about urologist demographics, workforce characteristics and practice patterns. Census findings are based on weighted responses from the 2,057 practicing U.S. urologists (that represent the entire U.S. practicing urologist workforce) who completed the census instrument.

Additional key findings from the AUA Census include:

• More than half of practicing urologists are over the age of 55, and nearly 28 percent are aged 65 years or older.
• Most practicing urologists in the United States are certified by the American Board of Urology, the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery, or both.
• Approximately 1,000 of the 11,990 total number of practicing urologists are women.
• Nearly 30 percent of practicing urologists have been practicing for more than 30 years.
• Nationally, the urologist-to-patient ratio is 3.7 per 100,000 people, but ratios vary, depending on geographic location.
• The states with the highest number of practicing urologists include California, Florida, New York and Texas. Wyoming has the lowest number of practicing urologists.
• Total number of counties without a urologist increased from 62.2 percent in 2014 to 63.6 percent in 2015.
• Approximately 63 percent of practicing urologists in the United States work in private practice; while 36 percent practice in institutional settings such as hospitals or academic medical centers. Of the group in private practice, more than half (55.1 percent) belong to single urology specialty groups and 26.4 percent belong to multispecialty groups.
• Approximately 41 percent of urology practices experience difficulty filling urologist vacancies.
• Nearly 36 percent of U.S. practicing urologists have completed supplemental fellowship training, with 9.2 percent completing two or more fellowships. More urologists report fellowship training in oncology than in any other subspecialty area of study.

"While the differences between this year's Census data and the 2014 Census data are subtle, the changes are beginning to signal trends to monitor," said AUA Data Committee Chairman J. Quentin Clemens, MD. "These newest data certainly reflect an aging workforce and population, as well as the potential crisis related to limited access to urologists in future years, especially in rural areas."

Copies of the full report can be found on the AUA Web site at www.AUAnet.org/CensusReport.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 21,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

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SOURCE American Urological Association

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