Table 2.

Percentage of Clinicians in Each Discipline Practicing in Underserved Areas, by Type of Underserved Area

Rural Area % (95% CI)Vulnerable Population Area % (95% CI)HPSA % (95% CI)
CI = confidence interval, HPSA = primary care health profession shortage area.
*Percent of state’s population residing in each type of underserved area.
P < .001 for comparisons of percentages across disciplines in each state for each type of underserved area.
California
Population*13.039.028.0
Family physicians13.2 (12.5–13.9)30.5 (29.5–31.5)24.2 (23.3–25.1)
General pediatricians6.2 (5.5–6.9)31.0 (29.6–32.4)18.6 (17.5–19.7)
General internists5.9 (5.4–6.4)31.5 (30.5–32.5)17.9 (17.1–18.7)
Obstetrician-gynecologists6.3 (5.5–7.1)28.3 (26.8–29.8)16.9 (15.7–18.1)
Nurse practitioners15.0 (13.6–16.4)34.4 (32.5–36.3)26.3 (24.6–28.0)
Physician assistants21.7 (18.9–24.5)47.7 (44.3–51.1)35.2 (32.0–38.4)
Certified nurse-midwives15.5 (12.0–19.0)41.1 (36.4–45.8)35.3 (30.7–39.9)
Washington
Population*24.040.038.6
Family physicians23.6 (21.8–25.3)45.6 (43.5–47.6)43.5 (41.5–45.6)
General pediatricians14.3 (11.5–17.1)43.5 (39.6–47.4)32.8 (29.1–36.5)
General internists13.8 (11.8–15.9)54.5 (51.6–57.4)28.4 (25.8–31.1)
Obstetrician-gynecologists13.7 (10.8–16.6)52.9 (48.7–57.1)31.6 (27.7–35.5)
Nurse practitioners19.7 (15.9–23.5)51.8 (47.0–56.6)37.3 (32.7–42.0)
Physician assistants27.8 (23.7–31.9)50.3 (45.8–54.7)42.1 (37.6–46.6)