The aging population in the United States has resulted in a lack of urologists. In particular, rural areas that are getting older may feel the effects of the urological shortage. The main goal of this study was to analyze the results of the American Urological Association Census to provide a detailed profile of rural urologists’ demographics and areas of expertise. Researchers looked back at a 5-year (2016-2020) sample of responses from the American Urological Association’s Census survey of all active urologists in the United States. The principal practice location’s rural-urban commuting area code was used to categorize the practice as either metropolitan (urban) or nonmetropolitan (rural). Descriptive analyses were performed on survey responses pertaining to demographics, characteristics of practices, and questions with an emphasis on rural areas. In 2020, the median age of urologists in urban areas was 54.6 years (95% CI 54.0-55.1), whereas the median age of urologists in rural areas was 60.9 years (95% CI 58.5-63.3). The average age and number of years in the practice of rural urologists have gone up since 2016, whereas those of urban urologists have stayed about the same. Many more rural urologists were self-employed, part of a multi-specialty group, or practiced in private institutions, while a much smaller proportion had completed a fellowship program. The dearth of urologists will have a disproportionately negative effect on rural areas. This research aims to enlighten and equip policymakers so they may take effective action to increase the number of urologists practicing in underserved areas.
Source: auajournals.org/doi/full/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000311
