Rural Health Research Gateway

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

Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206.685.0402
Lead researcher: Mark Doescher, MD, MSPH
Contact: Mark Doescher, MD, MSPH, 206.616.9207, mdoesche@u.washington.edu
Project funded: September 2008
Anticipated completion date:May 2010
Topics: Physicians
Workforce

This study will identify rural locations with high proportions of generalist physicians nearing retirement age. As fewer young physicians choose generalist careers, the retirement of older physicians may place additional strain on rural generalist supply. This study is quantifying the extent to which rural generalist physician shortages may be exacerbated by physician retirement, focusing on known shortage locations. The study uses data from the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association 2005 Masterfiles.