There are not enough pediatric specialists to treat the children who need them, and the problem is getting worse, which means wait times to see a specialist are growing.  Across the country, waiting periods for some specialists, such as pediatric neurologists or developmental-behavioral pediatricians, can average several months.  Pediatric non-physician professionals—such as respiratory therapists—are also increasingly scarce.

States and the federal government have a role in addressing these shortages, which could reach crisis level if there is not action.  At the federal level, the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) protects children’s access to high-quality medical care by providing freestanding children’s hospitals, including CHOP, with funding to support the training of pediatric providers. This funding is important to children’s hospitals because just 1% of the nation’s hospitals train nearly half of all pediatricians.  This program needs to be supported at the investment needs to grow, as it is currently insufficient.

Both states and the federal government can support workforce loan repayment programs, to defray the considerable costs of medical and professional education.