Fewer than 1 in 5 survey respondents said their rural market has enough permanent local general surgery capacity, according to a report from Jackson Physician Search, LocumTenens.com and MGMA.
The report also cites an ACS estimate that a rural surgeon can contribute $1.05 million to $2.7 million a year to a small hospital. It cites a separate survey in which 12% of critical access hospital administrators said their hospital would close if surgical capacity were lost.
Here is how respondents rated general surgery and anesthesiology, among other findings:
- General surgery coverage: 18% of respondents rated it adequate. Sixty-one percent said permanent surgeons are there but capacity is thin, and 17% said coverage is alternative or absent.
- Anesthesiology coverage: 8% rated it adequate, 58% rated it thin and 31% said it is alternative or absent.
- Stakes: 63% of respondents said losing local general surgery access would have significant consequences.
- Protect vs. grow: respondents were nearly split on whether to protect existing general surgery capacity (36%) or grow it (40%).
- Coverage options: among respondents who need a coverage decision within 12 months, 65% said permanent recruitment could work long term for general surgery. For shorter-term coverage, 71% supported locum tenens and 65% supported visiting surgeons.
- Options rated not viable: 82% said telehealth is not viable for general surgery, and 94% said reducing or discontinuing the service is not viable.