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An Updated Analysis of the Certified Hand Therapist Workforce in the United States
Trevor D Wolterink, MD, Lawrence C Vanderham, MD, Jared J Reid, MD, Paul J Pottanat, MD, Julia A DeSalvo, B.S, Dane N Daley, MD; Charles A Daly, MD
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Background Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) are a critical part of the healthcare team. Analysis of the CHT workforce and the population that they serve is necessary to ensure equitable access for acute injury or chronic conditions of the hand and wrist. Previous literature in 2016 demonstrated that CHTs were more concentrated in urban areas with low rates of poverty and high rates of White and Asian populations. The aim of our study was to provide an updated analysis of the CHT workforce and their patient population in the United States using 2024 data.
Methods Practice locations represented by Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) of all CHTs in 2024 were obtained from the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. Population characteristics, including location, poverty, and race/ethnicity, of these ZCTAs were obtained by cross-reference to the Census and American Community Survey data from 2020.
Results The number of CHTs available was 5572 in 2016 which increased to 7153 in 2024 representing an average of 1.9 and 2.1 CHTs/ZCTA in these years, respectively. When compared to 2016, populations with access to at least one CHT were increasingly likely to have a rural location, have higher poverty levels, and have a more diverse racial/ethnic composition with higher rates of Black and Hispanic populations in 2024.
Conclusions Availability of CHT was increased in 2016 compared to 2024. Additionally, these healthcare professionals were more likely to work in rural areas with higher rates of poverty and Black and Hispanic populations when compared to 2016 data.
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