Colorado Physician Shortage Facts
THE PROBLEM
Physician supply lags patient demand nationally and across Colorado. As supply falls, patients wait longer to see a doctor, and doctors burn out.
By 2030
The U.S. is projected to have 120,000 too few doctors nationally.1,2,3
- Nearly 40% of American physicians will reach retirement age.
- The United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.
- 31.2% of Colorado’s physicians are within retirement range right now.
Colorado is projected to be short 2,424 doctors.4,5,6
- Primary care alone is projected to be short 1,773 providers.
- Rural regions east of Denver have ratios as high as 5,636 residents for each primary care provider.
Ranked against other states,
Colorado’s doctor-to-patient ratio is:
25% worse
for infectious diseases
20% worse
for internal medicine
15% worse
for neurology
11% worse
for psychiatry
Pennsylvania Physician Shortage Facts