Environmental Scan - Government of Nova Scotia

Physician Resource PlanningAn Environmental ScanFigure 144 Physician Count by Specialty by Age Cohort, %>age 54, and Average Age cont… (Source: DHA and DFM)By 2022, it is expected cumulative retirements will be in the order of 59 (32%) in diagnostic and therapeutic,283 (31%) in family practice, 154 (30%) in the medical specialties, 45 (36%) in paediatrics, and 145 (33%) in thesurgical specialties. Provincially, the total is 688 or 31% of the current count. This equates to 3.1% per annum,which is typical of the Canadian physician workforce rate of retirement. It is noted that estimating retirementat age 65 is imprecise at the individual level. Also, certain specialties have a tendency to continuing workingpast age 65 e.g., psychiatry and ophthalmology, while surgeons tend to work at or near full capacity to theearly or mid-60s then retire completely.176 | Page Social Sector Metrics Inc. & Health Intelligence Inc. | 12/31/2011