Virginia Physician Shortage Facts
Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across Virginia. 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.
- 32.4% of Virginia physicians are within retirement range right now.
Virginia is projected to be short 3,911 doctors.
- Primary care alone is projected to be short 1,622 providers.
Overall, Virginia ranks in the bottom half of states for primary care and physician availability.
70 of Virginia’s 95 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.
Virginia’s physician-to-patient ratio is eight percent worse than the national average.
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