Abstract Details

Title Reassessing the Geographical Distribution of Neurologists in the United States

Topic Health Care Disparities

Presentation(s) P18 - Poster Session 18 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 11-007

Background Each year demand grows for neurological care in the United States. However, there is a large disparity in access to neurology providers, especially in rural areas. We previously analyzed the distribution of neurologists based on 2010 census data and aim to compare this to the 2020 census data in order to determine any change in distribution.

Objective The purpose of this study is to trend the geographic distribution of board certified neurologists in the United States over the past decade.

Design/Methods A retrospective analysis was performed using databases provided by the Center for Medicare Services. Provider information was compiled and filtered by specialty and National Provider Identifier (NPI). ZIP Codes provided by these databases were used to identify Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes provided by The United States Department of Agriculture, which were then used to identify each physician’s county. Then, population data by county was recorded using the 2010 and 2020 Census data. Each county was assigned a Rural-Urban Continuum Code (RUCC), which were used to define metropolitan and rural areas. The relative difference in population and in RUCCs were determined to compare 2010 and 2020 data.

Results Of the 15,063 neurologists identified,14,209 (94.33%) were still practicing in metropolitan areas while 785 (5.211%) were practicing in nonmetropolitan areas, and only 69 (0.458%) were practicing in rural areas. The distribution is largely unchanged since previous analysis, redemonstrating the drastically uneven distribution of neurologists.

Conclusions The majority of neurologists (94.33%) practice in urban metropolitan areas, while 5.221% practice in nonmetropolitan areas, and 0.458% practice in rural areas, highlighting the maldistribution of neurologists. As the U.S population ages, the incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders continue to rise while the distribution of neurologists has not expanded, especially in rural communities.

Authors/Disclosures
Kyra Curtis, MD (University of Rochester Neurology Department) PRESENTER	Ms. Curtis has nothing to disclose.
Sama Elrahi, MD (UCLA)	Ms. Elrahi has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Prashant K. Rai, MD (University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital)	Dr. Rai has nothing to disclose.