Jorge E. Garcia-Negron, MD
PM&RS/Pain Service Chief, VISN 8 REC ICC PM&R Lead
WPB VA Healthcare System, VISN 8
Jupiter, Florida, United States
Ramon L. Cuevas-Trisan, MD
ACOS for Education and Research
West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Hein Linn Thant, MD
PGY III PM&R Resident
Larkin Community Hospital
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
The majority of the physiatry workforce reported being between the ages of 36 to 65 years old (82.1%), with the largest group (31.6%) being between 46 and 55 years old. There were 21.4% in the age of 56-65 years old and 5% above 65 years old.
Over a third (35%) of the physiatrists have been with the VA between 1 and 5 years, followed by relatively equal amounts of those being with the VA between 6 and 10 years (19%), 11 to 15 years (18.4%), and 16 to 20 years (16.3%). Only 2.3% have been in the VA for more than 31 years.
Distribution of the physiatry workforce by region showed the largest concentration of physiatrists in VISN 8 (most of FL, PR, and the south GA), followed by VISN 22 (Southern CA, AZ and NM).
Conclusions:
The number of physiatrists per facility ranged from 2 to 37, reflecting the wide range of settings and facilities in the system. Most (86%) are employed full-time by the VA and the vast majority (96%) are board-certified in PM&R with 40% holding a subspecialty certification. However, only 62% have a faculty appointment with their affiliated academic institution but 67% reported teaching PM&R residents.
We believe that this is the largest assessment of the PM&R workforce ever undertaken in the VA system. It provides a better understanding of the demographics, distribution of the workforce, and educational contribution by our physiatry workforce.
