title: Physician demography and policy implications.
abstract: This 28-year retrospective analysis of 1980-2008 U.S. Census data found increases in Ohio's physicians, minority physicians, ages, work hours, and a consistent shortage of physicians in rural underserved areas. Ohio was below the national ratios of physicians per 100,000 people, with less than 6% of physicians in non-metropolitan areas. In 1980, only 13% of physicians were females. By 2008, about 31% of physicians were females. In 1980, less than 21% of physicians were members of an ethnic minority group, and this figure rose to 29% in 2008. The proportion of African American physicians approximately doubled, from less than 3% in 1980 to about 6% in 2008. To ensure the adequate capacity of the future physician workforce, physician demography should approximate the population served. Long-term investment in the rural practice environment is recommended for attracting and retaining rural practice physicians. Increasing the hiring of physician assistants can support the development of an integrated rural primary care workforce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Cleveland State University, 1127 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, USA. xiaoxing.he@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D001741:Black or African American