Geographic Misclassification of Cancer Care Physicians and Rural Cancer Care Service Delivery Patterns

Prior research by the WWAMI RHRC has reported that 5.4% of the total oncology workforce in 2022 had a primary practice location in rural counties. Classifying cancer care physicians solely by their primary practice location may underestimate rural cancer care capacity if urban-based physicians regularly provide services in rural areas. This study will examine the potential misclassification of rural cancer care capacity by quantifying the degree to which classification by primary practice location underestimates the availability of cancer care services in rural areas when urban-based physicians regularly cross geographic boundaries to serve rural populations. Understanding the true patterns of rural cancer care delivery will inform federal health resources and workforce development efforts.