Analysis: Long Waits for Pediatric Dermatology Appointments Across US
Key Takeaways
In a mystery caller study, 69% of general dermatologists accepted new pediatric patients compared with 100% of pediatric dermatologists.
Median wait times were significantly longer for pediatric dermatologists than for general dermatologists overall and across all 3 common pediatric scenarios studied.
More than 30% of general dermatologists did not offer new-patient appointments to children, underscoring persistent access gaps in pediatric dermatologic care.
Children seeking dermatologic care in the US face long waits regardless of where they are referred, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Dermatology.
Using a mystery caller design, investigators assessed appointment access and wait times for three common pediatric scenarios: infantile hemangioma in a 6-week-old infant, atopic dermatitis in a 3-year-old child, and acne in a 14-year-old adolescent. The study matched board-certified general dermatologists and fellowship-trained pediatric dermatologists across 30 cities in 29 states drawn from the 50 largest US metropolitan areas.
Among 585 calls placed in October 2024, 363 reached dermatologists’ offices. Overall, 69% of general dermatologists accepted pediatric patients, compared with 100% of pediatric dermatologists. Median wait time was 53 days for general dermatologists vs 89 days for pediatric dermatologists, a statistically significant difference. The authors reported that children waited 68% longer for pediatric dermatology appointments overall.
The pattern held across each scenario. Median wait times for infantile hemangioma were 26 days with general dermatologists and 49 days with pediatric dermatologists. For AD, the wait was 31 days vs 67 days, respectively. For acne, median waits were 30 days vs 62 days. Private practices also had shorter wait times than academic practices. The difference between general and pediatric dermatology persisted after adjustment for practice setting.
"We found that children waited 68% longer to see pediatric dermatologists than general dermatologists," the authors wrote. "This disparity persisted even when controlling for practice setting, suggesting factors beyond setting contribute to longer pediatric dermatologist waiting times. More than 30% of general dermatologists did not offer new-patient appointments to children."
Source: Garcia-Creighton E, et al. JAMA Dermatol. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.0120