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The Article in Brief
Mobility of US Rural Primary Care Physicians During 2000-2014
Matthew R. McGrail , and colleagues
Background Mobility and nonretention of rural physicians has an impact on training, workforce policy, and physician supply in both the location from which the physician moved and the physician's destination area. This study aims to describe the geographic mobility patterns of rural primary care physicians.
What This Study Found Between 2000 and 2014, the mobility rate of younger primary care physicians was approximately double that of older physicians. Biennial turnover of younger physicians was around 17 percent, compared to 9 percent for older physicians, with little difference between rural and metropolitan physicians. Nonretention of physicians was significantly worse in rural counties without a hospital, counties with a smaller population, and those with decreased physician supply. The study, based on AMA Masterfile data, found no association with county-level economic or demographic measures. Female physicians from urban areas were more likely to leave rural practice.
Implications
- The study authors call on rural health workforce planners and policy makers to be cognizant of these key factors in guiding retention policies and support for vulnerable rural communities.