Pennsylvania Physician Shortage Facts
THE PROBLEM
Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across Pennsylvania. 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.
- 34.4% of physicians in Pennsylvania are currently within retirement range.
Pennsylvania is projected to be short 1,039 doctors.4,5,6,7
- There are only 350 residency slots in Pennsylvania for primary care each year.
- 45.2% of those residents will practice out of state.
- 20 Pennsylvania counties have seen significant decreases in primary care providers.
32 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).8,9,10
- Low-income citizens are disproportionately affected by these shortages.
- HPSA designations indicate areas where there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider.
- 380,454 Pennsylvania residents live in an HPSA.
Ranked against other states, Pennsylvania’s doctor-to-patient ratio is:
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