South Carolina Physician Shortage Facts
Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across South Carolina. 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.
- Nearly 40% of American physicians will reach retirement age.
- The United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.
South Carolina is projected to be short 3,230 doctors.
- Primary care alone is projected to be short 815 providers.
Overall, South Carolina ranks in the bottom half of states for primary care and general surgeon availability.
41 of South Carolina’s 46 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
- 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.
South Carolina’s physician to patient ratio is 23 percent worse than the national average.
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