@article {Leejrheum.201611, author = {Jennifer J.Y. Lee and Ronald M. Laxer and Brian M. Feldman and Claire E.H. Barber and Michelle Batthish and Roberta Berard and Lori B. Tucker and Deborah M. Levy}, title = {Variations in Pediatric Rheumatology Workforce and Care Processes Across Canada}, elocation-id = {jrheum.201611}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.3899/jrheum.201611}, publisher = {The Journal of Rheumatology}, abstract = {Objective To examine Canadian pediatric rheumatology workforce and care processes. Methods Pediatric rheumatologists and allied health professionals (AHPs) participated. A designee from each academic centre provided workforce information including number of providers, total and breakdown of full-time equivalents (FTE), and triage processes. We calculated the clinical care FTE (cFTE) available per 75,000 (recommended benchmark) and 300,000 (adjusted) children using 2019 census data. The national workforce deficit was calculated as the difference between current and expected cFTEs. Remaining respondents were asked about ambulatory practices. Results The response rate of survey A (workforce information) and survey B (ambulatory practice information) was 100\% and 54\%, respectively. The majority of rheumatologists (91\%) practiced in academic centres. The median number of rheumatologists per centre was 3 (IQR:3) and median cFTE was 1.8 (IQR:1.5). The median cFTE per 75,000 was 0.2 (IQR:0.3) with a national deficit of 80 cFTEs. With the adjusted benchmark, there was no national deficit but a regional maldistribution of rheumatologists. All centres engaged in multidisciplinary practices with a median of 4 different AHPs, although the median FTE for AHPs was <=1. Most centres (87\%) utilized a centralized triage process. Of 9 (60\%) centres that used an electronic triage process, 6 were able to calculate wait times. Most clinicians integrated quality improvement practices, such as pre-visit planning (68\%), post-visit planning (68\%), and periodic health outcome monitoring (36-59\%). Conclusion This study confirms a national deficit at the current recommended benchmark. Most rheumatologists work in multidisciplinary teams, but AHP support may be inadequate.}, issn = {0315-162X}, URL = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2021/07/25/jrheum.201611}, eprint = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2021/07/25/jrheum.201611.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of Rheumatology} }