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HOW MANY DERMATOLOGISTS?– 1973 REVISITED
Author(s) -
Taft Eric H.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1988.tb00365.x
Subject(s) - guideline , medicine , accreditation , graduation (instrument) , flexibility (engineering) , medical education , training (meteorology) , family medicine , management , pathology , engineering , mechanical engineering , physics , meteorology , economics
S ummary Within the broad criteria of the current private practice fee‐for‐service medical system, the present paper attempts to produce definitive concepts for dermatological training posts and numbers within Australia. The suggested dermatologist: population ratio of 1:80,000, adopted as a guideline in 1973, was based upon our own experience, together with comparative figures from other countries with similar economic systems and standards. Experience since that time suggests that this recommended ratio may already need upward revision. The present pattern of full‐time training, usually undertaken in the first five years after graduation, can result in inordinate difficulties for females – a steadily increasing proportion of medical graduates. Together with the possible reduction in governmental funding of training posts, there would seem to be an urgent need for introducing flexibility into the current training programme including the acceptable alternatives of a greater component of accredited overseas training and the establishment of part‐time and shared training posts.