The Arduous Path Toward Equitable Access to Endocrinology Care

Abstract

Multiple factors contribute to the widening gap between supply and demand of endocrinology services. In addition to the inadequate growth of the workforce, the inefficient utilization of endocrinologists' expertise coupled with the rising prevalence of endocrine conditions has generated a crisis in access to specialty care. This mismatch is magnified in underserved communities and among certain racial/ethnic groups that carry a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases, like diabetes and osteoporosis, thus perpetuating the cycle of health disparities in vulnerable populations. Reorienting the framework of endocrine care toward more effective and equitable access will require comprehensive changes in operational processes, system-based policies, and in the diversity of our workforce. Specifically, the progressive transition to outcome-driven, team-based models of care can extend endocrinology services beyond the traditional boundaries of in-office referrals and promote job satisfaction. Further, the implementation of policies that directly tackle structural determinants of health is a prerequisite to a more precise and equitable deployment of specialty care. In this view, the recruitment and professional growth of clinicians underrepresented in medicine along the career ladder, including leadership roles, is a key conduit to revitalize our field and to innovate the delivery of endocrine care across all communities.

Keywords: care models; endocrinology access; health disparities; shortage of endocrinologists; underrepresented in medicine.