Estimating professional manpower needs for hospital dietary departments.

Dietetic personnel needs in hospitals over the next five and ten years have been estimated. In view of projected growth and replacement needs, and assuming that utilization of dietitians continues as at present, 11, 900 more will be needed in hospitals in 1972 and 17, 922 by 1977—or 915 annually until 1972 and 1200 from 1972 to 1977. The profession is currently gaining new members at a rate of approximately 700 a year. Thus the chronic need for dietitians is expected to continue for the next ten years.