Otolaryngology Provider Distribution Disparities in Pennsylvania

Objective To assess the distribution of otolaryngology providers within Pennsylvania. Study Design Cross‐sectional study. Setting State of Pennsylvania. Methods Otolaryngologists in Pennsylvania were analyzed based on their associated state Area Deprivation Indexes (ADIs) and Rural‐Urban Commuting (RUCA) Codes, as determined by census tract data. Results Of 563 otolaryngology providers identified in Pennsylvania, 477 (83.7%) had office addresses with available RUCA codes and 446 (79.2%) with associated ADI measures. Providers were predominantly located in urban settings, with 466 (93.5%) reporting a primary clinic address in a metropolitan area (RUCA 1‐3) and 25 (5.2%) in a micropolitan area (RUCA 3‐6). Notably, only 4 (0.8%) providers had primary clinic addresses in small towns (RUCA 7‐9) and 2 (0.4%) in rural areas (RUCA 10). Similarly, 171 (38.3%) of providers were situated in areas with an ADI in the top 2 deciles (1‐2), while only 56 (12.6%) had clinic addresses in deciles 9‐10 (most deprived areas). Conclusion Pennsylvania faces disparities in access to otolaryngology providers based on socioeconomic and urban‐rural workforce distribution.