Shortage of oncologists: the best and worst cities (2023)

FAQs

Is there a shortage of medical oncologists? ›

The oncology workforce shortage poses a significant challenge for all practices, but particularly for nonacademic institutions, according to experts with whom Healio | HemOnc Today spoke.

Without consideration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), overall demand for oncologist services is projected to grow 40% (21,255 FTEs), whereas supply may grow only 25% (18,997 FTEs), generating a shortage of 2,258 FTEs in 2025.

The study found that the United States will likely face a 48% increase in demand for oncologist services by 2020—in large part because of the expected 81% increase in cancer survivorship and the 48% increase in cancer incidence caused by the aging of the population.

Among oncologists/hematologists, 64.5% said that they would take chemotherapy, as did 67% of nurses.

Upon hearing a diagnosis of cancer, the patient is faced with a multitude of issues. In addition to the medical and logistic details described previously, major concerns include fear of death, disfigurement, pain, disability, infertility, dependency, abandonment, altered relationships, and financial hardship.

Hourly rates for oncologists in the US typically range between $63 and $323 an hour. The average oncologist salary is $220,841 in Alaska, $219,531 in North Dakota, and $214,329 in Montana.

This survey also showed the expected retirement age for respondents was 64.3 years.

The future of oncology will be shaped by precision medicine and better technology. Gene therapy, machine learning, and reimbursement changes will modify how community oncology programs function. In addition, many oncology centers will need to adopt new measures to manage patients who expect to be treated as consumers.

Respondents' primary medical specialties were hematology/oncology (65%), medical oncology (33%), or “other” (2%). They saw a median of 20 patients per day and had been in practice for a median of 18 years. Less than half (41%) were participating in the value-based Oncology Care Model.

Is oncology a stressful job? ›

If you are a physician, you have probably experienced a fair share of stress and burnout throughout your education and training, along with your job as an attending. Medical oncologists are at a higher risk of burning out on the job.

The oncology market continues to expand at a rapid pace. Experts expect ongoing increases in cancer diagnoses over the next 10 years.

For many medicines, you see, oncologists receive a 6% markup, meaning when they infuse a patient with a $10,000 monthly course of chemotherapy, their practice yields an extra $600. By contrast, if the practice treated that patient with a generic chemotherapy, they'd be out most of that extra money.

According to the most recent statistical data from NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, the median age of a cancer diagnosis is 66 years. This means that half of cancer cases occur in people below this age and half in people above this age.

This is not to say that oncologists do not make money by providing chemotherapy. The average “margin,” the extra amount of dollars that chemotherapy in the outpatient setting is charged, is between 4 and 6 percent.

Oncology is a challenging specialty, especially because you must participate in a fellowship program after residency to become an oncologist, in most cases.

Skin changes such as a rash, dimpled skin or skin reddening. Changes to your nipples such as dryness, leaking or inverted nipples. Pain, swelling or any changes to your breast. Blood in your poo or wee.

The field of oncology has 3 major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, the oncologist known as the world's richest doctor, has spent the last decade quietly plotting a big change in the way cancer is treated.

How much does a top oncologist make? ›

Oncologists worked an average of 57.6 hours per week (AP, 58.6 hours per week; PP, 62.9 hours per week) and saw a mean of 52 outpatients per week.

Oncologists have the very difficult job of treating patients with cancer. Although many oncologists find the career rewarding, it is also very demanding and challenging. Because of the incurable nature of the disease, oncologists are often required to give patients difficult news regarding their illnesses.

Complications such as jaundice, sepsis or occlusion, often observed during the evolution of digestive cancers, are important reasons for discontinuation and could explain our shorter time from chemotherapy discontinuation to death, compared to other oncology subspecialties.

Oncologists tend to be predominantly enterprising individuals, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others. They also tend to be artistic, meaning that they are creative and original and work well in a setting that allows for self-expression.

They've been trained not to ever show any weakness, and they think of mental health issues as weakness.” Oncologists, who frequently deal with death and distressed patients and family members, may be especially prone to depression.

“One area to watch for new developments in 2023 is the dynamic monitoring of the whole cancer journey, from detection to interception to monitoring of resistance in metastatic cancer, using new technologies, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and other circulating biomarkers.

Approximately 2 million new cancers are expected in 2023, with prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer (CRC) as the leading diagnoses in men (combined 48%), and breast, lung, and CRC accounting for 52% of diagnoses in women.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new, voluntary alternative payment model, which will replace the Oncology Care Model (OCM) that ended on June 30. The OCM's successor, known as the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM), will begin next year on July 1, and run for 5 years.

Oncologists have a deep desire to change the course of the disease for patients with cancer; cure where possible and when a cure is not possible to extend and improve the quality of life remaining and provide effective palliation of symptoms. This was my motivation for considering a career in Oncology.

What is the average number of patients for an oncologist? ›

Practice-average established patient visits must have been reported and averaged between 1,000 and 8,000 per hematologist/oncologist.

The Bureaus of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the most common places oncologists work include: Doctors' offices. General medical and surgical hospitals. Federal agencies (National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, etc.)

This investigation found the rate of burnout to be 56% among all 598 respondents, and specifically 58% for adult medical oncologists. Of interest, university-based oncologists reported a lower incidence of burnout (47%).

Being an oncologist offers several personal and professional rewards such as saving lives, advancing the field of medicine, gaining prestige and living a comfortable lifestyle. Although there are pros and cons to oncology, such as years of rigorous study, many doctors find this career worth it.

Unfortunately, challenges to a robust oncology nursing workforce include nursing shortages, recruitment barriers (eg, perceptions of a demanding specialty with complex care and hazardous work environments), and burnout.

A doctorate of medicine or osteopathy

An oncologist may pursue either type of doctorate. After approximately four years of medical school, a student earns the doctorate they chose to pursue. Then they apply for and complete a two-year to five-year-long oncology residency.

AmerisourceBergen Specialty GPOs is the largest specialty group purchasing organization in the oncology field.

Sales Revenue From Cancer Drugs Has Doubled Among Top Pharmaceutical Companies in the Last 10 Years, Exceeding $103 Billion USD in 2019. Key Points: Revenues from the sale of oncology drugs increased by 96% over the past decade, from $52.8 billion USD in 2010 to $103.5 billion USD in 2019.

It is illegal to pay or receive “kickbacks” in conjunction with federal health care insurance. Prohibitions against kickbacks are crucial to ensure that financial motives do not undermine the medical judgment of physicians and other health care providers.

Under this statute, it is illegal for a physician to receive remuneration for referring a patient for a service that will be paid in whole or in part by a federal health care program or for prescribing or recommending the purchase of a drug that will be paid in whole or in part by a federal health care program.

Do doctors get kickbacks for prescribing statins? ›

Ornstein continued, "It's illegal to give kickbacks to a doctor to prescribe drugs, but it is legal to give money to doctors to help promote your drug. Some doctors make tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year beyond their normal practice just for working with the industry."

It is important to remember that chemotherapy can be a treatment option for patients of any age. Older adults have distinct needs before, during, and after chemotherapy treatments.

Stage I: The cancer is localized to a small area and hasn't spread to lymph nodes or other tissues. Stage II: The cancer has grown, but it hasn't spread. Stage III: The cancer has grown larger and has possibly spread to lymph nodes or other tissues. Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other organs or areas of your body.

Being an oncologist is a highly demanding and challenging job, but it can also be very rewarding.

Medicare covers chemotherapy if you have cancer. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. covers it if you're a hospital inpatient. Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.

Oncologist Compensation Methodologies. The basic compensation methodologies found in oncologist-hospital alignment relationships are (1) a fixed salary, (2) productivity-based compensation, or (3) performance-based bonuses.

Surgical specialties' supply threatened

And these shortages are severe in some rural areas,” Dr. Orlowski said. The AAMC report indicates that under even conservative scenarios, the surgical specialties shortfall will reach at least 25,200 by 2025 but might hit 33,200.

Oncology fellowship programs are highly competitive and require a high level of dedication to attend. Once you've completed your oncology fellowship, you can complete the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) exam for board certification.

This survey also showed the expected retirement age for respondents was 64.3 years. We know now that one in five U.S. oncologists is 64 or older. Oncology is a long-learned craft, and most of us enjoy the combination of patient care and new developments in the field.

What is the most underpaid medical specialty? ›

Neurosurgeons can directly touch, alter, and enhance the central nervous system. Though it has one of the most difficult lifestyles, as one might be summoned into a hospital at the last minute to save someone's life, it is an intellectually stimulating and fascinating field with an exciting career.

Medical oncologists are at a high risk of burnout. It is esti- mated that 45% of oncologists in the USA are experiencing burnout [1]. A stressful job paired with having seriously ill patients, who are going through a terrible time in their life dealing with their cancer, makes this profession much more intense.

If you are a physician, you have probably experienced a fair share of stress and burnout throughout your education and training, along with your job as an attending. Medical oncologists are at a higher risk of burning out on the job.

67-70 – During this age range, your Social Security benefit, if you haven't already taken it, will increase by 8% for each year you delay taking it until you turn 70.