Clinical workforce shortages affect every specialty in every geographic location in the U.S, but in rural-care settings, the problem is particularly acute.
As a recent Commonwealth Fund report noted, 43 million people who live in rural areas face primary-care clinician shortages, with 45% of rural U.S. counties possessing five or fewer primary care doctors. Moreover, roughly 200 counties completely lack a single provider. Specialty shortages are increasing too, according to the latest HRSA Health Workforce Report.
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