Virginia Physician Shortage Facts
THE PROBLEM
Physician supply lags 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.1,2,3
- Nearly 40% of American physicians will reach retirement age.
- The United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.
- 32.4% of Virginia’s physicians are within retirement range right now.
Virginia is projected to be short 3,911 doctors.2,4
- 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 supply availability.4
70 of Virginia’s 95 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).5,6
- 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 8 percent worse than the national average.
24% worse
for infectious disease
46% worse
in pediatric internal medicine
10% worse
for internal medicine
35% worse
in sports medicine
Pennsylvania Physician Shortage Facts