Critical Shortage of Rural Family Physicians Threatens Healthcare Access
URMC Newsroom
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
The United States is facing a significant shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural areas where an 11% net loss of family physicians was reported from 2017 to 2023, according to a study in the Annals of Family Medicine. This decline poses serious implications for healthcare access, especially as more young adults migrate to these regions, increasing demand for services. The multifaceted roles of family physicians often lead to burnout, exacerbating the shortage as more doctors opt to relocate or retire. Furthermore, a decreasing number of medical students are choosing family medicine, compounded by challenges for international students, heightening concerns about future care availability in underserved areas.
