Projections and predictions of future healthcare provider shortages in the United States continue to loom, with updated figures from the Association of American Medical Colleges anticipating the demand for physicians will exceed supply by a range of 42,600 and 121,300 by 2030. Currently, though, many places already experience the shortage; more than 6,700 geographic areas, populations, and facilities in the United States are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas with too few primary care health providers and services, in need of more than 13,000 additional providers to end the shortage. Some areas experience much more severe shortages than others, for multiple reasons. Below, find the rankings of the states most impacted by a shortage of physicians as well as those with the most adequate supply of physicians.
States With Too Few Doctors
Overall, in 2016 the United States averaged 271.6 active physicians per 100,000 people. Several states’ physician figures fell far below that average:
- Mississippi: 186.1 physicians per 100,000 people
- Idaho: 192.6
- Wyoming: 199
- Nevada: 200.1
- Arkansas: 203.7
These states contain mostly rural or non-urban communities, with fewer hospitals and fewer medical graduate schools. Physicians seeking to serve in a small town or operate as a mobile doctor might find these locations of interest. Also, because the supply of physicians does not meet the demand for physician services, these states offer less competition to doctors entering many communities. More opportunities are likely available for midlevel practitioners such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Additionally, states with the greatest need for more physicians tend to compensate with higher starting salaries.
The level of opportunity available in an area depends on more factors than just the number of doctors. A recent ranking of the states “best” and “worst” for physicians as a place to work measured 16 different metrics along two dimensions, including “opportunity and competition.” Several metrics, including the areas of salaries, number of hospitals, insurance status, and projected share of elderly persons were used, weighted and combined with current and projected competition figures. In these rankings, Idaho emerged as the top state.
States Not Experiencing a Physician Shortage
At the opposite end of the rankings are those states currently home to much higher ratios of doctors to patients:
- Massachusetts: 443.5 physicians per 100,000 people
- Maryland: 377.8
- New York: 365.1
- Vermont: 357.5
- Rhode Island: 356.9
The northeastern states contain many high-ranked medical facilities, research centers, and graduate schools; these have highly sought-after residency programs that attract candidates. Since upon completion more than half of the new doctors initially practice in the same state where they completed their residency, areas around esteemed, competitive training programs tend to be home to more physicians. Also, urban centers such as New York City or Boston typically are more attractive to physicians seeking out a place to practice.
It is worth noting that the figures above represent physicians of all types, including specialists. The primary care shortage is more pronounced. For example, though Massachusetts still has the greatest physician density in the United States, the state had only 134.4 primary care physicians in 2016.
No matter which state your hospital or other healthcare facility is located in, Adaptive Medical Partners, a premier physician recruiting firm, can assist in finding practitioners who are the right fit for your organization and agency.
