Back in April, the AAMC released a new report showing an increased expected physician shortage for both primary and specialty care. They predicted that the US could see a shortage of up to 120,000 physicians by 2030.
While the shortage affects physicians and patients across the country, there are some states that will be hit harder than others. While the best long-term solution to the shortage is training and enabling more healthcare providers to meet the growing needs of patients, a short-term solution is needed in the interim.
Healthcare workforce multiplication through locum tenens and telemedicine work, is currently one of the most prevalent short-term ways of addressing the shortage. These methods allow doctors to practice in a more short-term setting to directly provide care for the populations with the greatest needs.
These 10 states are currently struggling with the lowest physician to patient ratios based on data from the 2017 State Physician Workforce Data Report from the AAMC. Within the entire US, the average number of physicians per population of 100,000 people is 271.6. These states are dealing with ratios far below these.
States with the Worst Physician to Population Ratio
The average number of physicians per population of 100,000 people in the US is 271.6. The ratio for each of these 10 states falls well below that average.
| Rank | State | Total Population | # of Active Physicians | Rate per 100,000 |
| 1 | Mississippi | 2,988,726 | 5,562 | 186.1 |
| 2 | Idaho | 1,683,140 | 3,241 | 192.6 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 585,501 | 1,165 | 199 |
| 4 | Nevada | 2,940,058 | 5,884 | 200.1 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 2,988,248 | 6,088 | 203.7 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 3,923,561 | 8,057 | 205.3 |
| 7 | Utah | 3,051,217 | 6,389 | 209.4 |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,134,693 | 6,627 | 211.4 |
| 9 | Alabama | 4,863,300 | 10,329 | 212.4 |
| 10 | Texas | 27,862,596 | 61,132 | 219.4 |
Find Opportunities in States with Largest Physician Shortages
By taking short term opportunities in these states, you can help to provide care for the patients in these areas that need it most. If you can travel, even for a few days, a locums role is a great way to get in touch with the communities in person. If you can’t travel, a telemedicine position can also provide great value for patients who wouldn’t otherwise receive care.
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Unfortunately, these aren’t the only states that fall below the national average physician to patient ratio. In fact, there are a total of 32 states that fall below this average. If you’d like a breakdown of all states that need a little extra help, let us know in the comments below and we’ll expand this list in a future article!
Warmly,
The Nomad Team
nomadhealth.com
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