Minnesota physician workforce analysis: rural supply and demand.
Considering the physician supply in 2002, the potential number of new physicians, and the number of vacancies that year, rural Minnesota has shortages in the following specialties: family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, psychiatry, and urology. Metropolitan areas have fewer shortages; however, there is a gap between supply and demand in obstetrics/gynecology, gastroenterology, general surgery, otolaryngology, and urology. Future areas of concern for all parts of the state include family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology, general surgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, and urology. In Minnesota, with several specialties facing a substantial number of retirements in the next 10 years, the number of new physicians completing graduate medical education remaining steady or declining, and the population growing--especially among people ages 65 to 84, the current shortages may increase, and additional specialties may experience a gap if the supply is not increased.
Buck
Sally T
ST
Rural Health Resource Center, Minnesota Center for Rural Health, Duluth, USA.
Trauba
Vicki
V
Christensen
Raymond G
RG
D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008511:Medicine / Q000639:trends; D008910:Minnesota; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D013038:Specialization