Geographic distance to pediatric surgical care within the continental United States.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nGeographic proximity to pediatric surgical care has not been evaluated using the Decennial Census nor have racial, ethnic, gender, or urbanization variations been reported. This study s aim is to describe proximity of children living in the continental U.S. to a pediatric surgeon with respect to these variations.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThe 2010 American Pediatric Surgical Association member file and the 2010 Decennial Census were used to calculate straight-line distances between pediatric surgeons zip code centroids and census block centroids.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn 2010, 716 practicing pediatric surgeons were identified, 6,182,882 populated Census blocks were identified, and 73,690,271 children were enumerated. Of white non-Hispanic children, 30.1% lived greater than 40\u202fmiles from care. Of Native American children, 40.5% lived more than 60\u202fmiles from care. Among children 0-5\u202fyears of age, the median (IQR) miles to closest pediatric surgeon was 14.2 (6.2, 39.6), and 3,010,698 of these children lived more than 60\u202fmiles from care.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nMore than 10 million children lived greater than 60\u202fmiles from a pediatric surgeon in 2010. Racial, ethnic, age, and urbanization variations in proximity to pediatric surgeons were present. This method is feasible to describe distance-to-care with the upcoming 2020 Decennial Census and may benefit future allocation of pediatric surgeons.\n\n\nLEVEL OF EVIDENCE\nIV.