An oncologist shortage is expected as providers age and an imminent retirement wave approaches, according to an Oct. 11 Doximity analysis.
Researchers analyzed CMS data, board certification data and self-reported data from more than 18,000 oncology practitioners to identify metropolitan areas that have the highest risk of experiencing a shortage.
Top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest risk of shortages:
1. Miami
2. North Port, Fla.
3. New York City
4. Los Angeles
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Detroit
7. Hartford, Conn.
8. Buffalo, N.Y.
9. Las Vegas
10. San Diego
Buffalo was also the area with the highest number of women with breast cancer per 100,000 people, Doximity finds.
Twenty percent or more of oncologists were over the age of 65 in 37 of the 50 metropolitan statistical areas examined. The expected retirement age for oncologists is around 64 years old, according to a study cited by Doximity.
By 2025, demand for oncologists is expected to increase by 40 percent, while a shortage of over 2,220 oncologists is predicted, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
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