The Pediatrician Ratio, derived from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), measures the number of practicing pediatricians per 100,000 children in a given area, typically expressed as the number of pediatricians per 100,000 children. This metric is an important indicator of healthcare access for young populations, as adequate pediatric care is critical for monitoring growth, preventing illness, and managing chronic conditions during early childhood. Low pediatrician ratios can signal potential shortages in child-specific healthcare services, which may lead to delayed care, increased emergency visits, and poorer health outcomes. Tracking this ratio enables policymakers and healthcare systems to identify underserved areas and allocate resources to improve child health equity.
Better access to pediatric care ensures healthier, more school-ready children. That yields higher academic achievement, greater future earning potential, and reduced public spending on remedial education and healthcare. Monitoring the Pediatrician-to-Population Ratio enables cities to identify underserved areas and deploy targeted incentives that may ultimately reduce long-term socioeconomic disparities.
Why does this matter?
- Improves Test Scores
- One added pediatrician per 1,000 children was associated with a 0.027 standard deviation increase in test scores, equivalent to about two extra weeks of learning. In addition, US school districts with higher physician-to-child ratios reported better early academic achievement, even after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Children in areas with the lowest physician ratios had the most pronounced differences in third-grade test scores, underscoring that pediatrician availability is closely associated with outcomes critical for long-term economic well-being.1
- Impacts School Attendance
- The relationship between the availability of pediatricians and academic achievement was strongest in areas with the lowest supply, where adding a single pediatrician yielded 90 additional school days of instruction.2
- Influences Health Outcomes
- Increased pediatrician density was significantly associated with improved child health outcomes. Specifically, a unit increase in pediatrician density led to a 7% reduction in the child mortality rate.3
1 Drescher J, Domingue BW. The distribution of child physicians and early academic achievement. Health Serv Res. 2023 Aug;58 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):165-174. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14188. Epub 2023 Jun 7. PMID: 37286180; PMCID: PMC10339172.
2 Drescher, Jessica, “Educational Opportunity and Access to Pediatric Care Are More Intertwined than You Might Think.” October 2023. Brookings. www.brookings.edu/articles/educational-opportunity-and-access-to-pediatric-care-are-more-intertwined-than-you-might-think/
3 Sakai R, Fink G, Kumamaru H, Kawachi I. The Impact of Pediatrician Supply on Child Health Outcomes: Longitudinal Evidence from Japan. Health Serv Res. 2016 Apr;51(2):530-49. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12354. Epub 2015 Sep 1. PMID: 26331211; PMCID: PMC4799901.