- Author
- American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
- Title
- National Program for Dermatology. To Conquer Disability Due to Skin Disease Through Patient Service, Education and Research...
- Coporate
- American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
- Keywords
- skin (human) | patients | education | skin (burns) | mortality
- Identifiers
- morbidity; disability; economic loss; dermatology
- Abstract
- In the past year there has been a survey of the nation's deficit in dermatological care and now a series of specific proposals are made to bring diagnosis, treatment, research and education into line with U.S. needs. The goals of the new program are to counter the current shortage of specialists and special treatment facilities for the ten million Americans who yearly need medical relief from skin problems and, further, to establish priorities in seeking a better understanding of the dermatoses and better ways of coping with them. The present nation-wide ratio of one practicing dermatologist for every 59,000 Americans is inadequate and the shortage will become more acute in the 1970's as a growing population continues to seek more health care year by year. At present, only about 500 doctors participate in the three-hear residency programs in any given year, thus adding fewer than 170 trained dermatologists annually. The ratio of fully qualified (Board certified) skin specialists to population is at present only one to 111,000.