8 Statistics That Explain the Rural Doctor Shortage–KXNews/Stacker
By Annalise Mantz, Stacker
(STACKER) — For Americans who live in cities or suburbs, going to the doctor is usually a simple errand. Even if they have trouble finding an appointment time that works for their schedule or getting their health insurance to cover it, their doctor’s office or hospital is usually a manageable distance from their home or work.
However, for 46 million Americans living in rural areas, accessing healthcare isn’t as easy. According to a 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter of rural Americans say access to good-quality hospitals and doctors is a challenge for their community. Making things worse, these rural residents tend to be older, less wealthy, and less likely to have health insurance than their urban and suburban counterparts.
A few highlights:
Nearly 4 in 5 rural U.S. communities are short on medical staff
There are fewer health care providers per capita in nonmetropolitan areas
1 in 4 rural teens—and 1 in 5 rural adults—don’t have a primary care doctor who they see regularly
142 rural hospitals have closed since 2010