Some characteristics of the community practice of pathology in the United States. National Manpower Survey of 1987

An evaluation of 629 pathologists engaged in community hospital and private laboratory practice and representing 601 pathology practices of varying size shows surprising uniformity in the distribution of professional effort. On average, pathologists in community practice distribute their effort as follows: surgical pathology, 34.6%; autopsy pathology, 6.7%; cytology, 8.8%; clinical pathology, 18.0%; teaching, 6.0%; research and development, 2.3%; laboratory administration, 17.5%; hospital administration, 2.9%; and other, 3.2%. The average community pathologist is male, 52 years of age, and a graduate of an American medical school (60%). When surveyed in 1986, community pathologists worked an average of 50 hours per week and retired at an average age of 62 years.