The Aging of the Rural Primary Care Physician Workforce: Will Some Locations Be More Affected than Others?

As the aging primary care provider population retires, rural provider shortages will be further exacerbated. Identifying states and counties that are at particularly high risk for primary care physician (PCP) attrition through retirement can help inform policy and planning decisions in an effort to avoid PCP shortages in these vulnerable locations. This study identified rural locations with high proportions of generalist physicians nearing retirement age using data from the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association 2005 Masterfiles. Click here to read the full article from the Rural Health Research and Policy Centers.