Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Physician assistants
A Discrete Choice Experiment with Health Professions Trainees to Improve the Urban-Rural Health Care Access Disparity in Appalachia: Study Protocol
A study protocol that examines strategies and policies for successful recruitment of healthcare professionals in rural Appalachia. Discusses utilization of the discrete choice experiment methodology (DCE) to analyze medical residents and fellows, physician assistant (PA) students, and nurse practitioner (NP) students and their location choice for employment.
Author(s): Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, Sarah Garvick, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(1), e0316521
Date: 01/2025
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A study protocol that examines strategies and policies for successful recruitment of healthcare professionals in rural Appalachia. Discusses utilization of the discrete choice experiment methodology (DCE) to analyze medical residents and fellows, physician assistant (PA) students, and nurse practitioner (NP) students and their location choice for employment.
Author(s): Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, Sarah Garvick, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(1), e0316521
Date: 01/2025
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Nebraska: The Licensed Behavioral Health Workforce Report 2025
Provides data on Nebraska's behavioral health workforce from 2010 to 2024. Includes information on regional trends, rural versus urban distribution, demographics, and training programs.
Additional links: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Snapshot, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Snapshot, Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP/LIMHP) Snapshot, Overall Snapshot, Physician Assistant Snapshot, Psychiatrist Snapshot, Psychologist Snapshot, Regional Snapshot
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Nebraska Medical Center
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Provides data on Nebraska's behavioral health workforce from 2010 to 2024. Includes information on regional trends, rural versus urban distribution, demographics, and training programs.
Additional links: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Snapshot, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Snapshot, Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP/LIMHP) Snapshot, Overall Snapshot, Physician Assistant Snapshot, Psychiatrist Snapshot, Psychologist Snapshot, Regional Snapshot
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Nebraska Medical Center
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Rural Primary Care Workforce: A State-Level Analysis
Provides fact sheets on the rural primary care workforce for select states in 2025. Includes maps and tables providing county-level data and rural-urban comparisons of provider to population ratios for family physicians, general internists, general pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Provides fact sheets on the rural primary care workforce for select states in 2025. Includes maps and tables providing county-level data and rural-urban comparisons of provider to population ratios for family physicians, general internists, general pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Annual Report on the New Hampshire Health Care Workforce and Data Collection: Calendar Year 2024
Includes aggregate data and information on current and projected New Hampshire primary workforce needs and the participation rate on surveys completed by clinicians for the Health Professions Data Center. Features a state map showing rural and nonrural New Hampshire regional public health networks, and statistics on demographics, barriers to care, substance use and mental health, and maternal health. Includes license renewal data for various providers types, and workforce data on physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants, including percentage in rural regions.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire Rural Health & Primary Care
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Includes aggregate data and information on current and projected New Hampshire primary workforce needs and the participation rate on surveys completed by clinicians for the Health Professions Data Center. Features a state map showing rural and nonrural New Hampshire regional public health networks, and statistics on demographics, barriers to care, substance use and mental health, and maternal health. Includes license renewal data for various providers types, and workforce data on physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants, including percentage in rural regions.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire Rural Health & Primary Care
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State of the Primary Care Workforce, 2024
Offers data on the current state and projected estimates of the future supply of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants offering primary care. Includes demographics as well as current and projected shortages with comparison and metropolitan and nonmetropolitan projections. Discusses challenges impacting the workforce and the impact of primary care on population health. Includes state by state data on the primary care physician workforce.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Offers data on the current state and projected estimates of the future supply of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants offering primary care. Includes demographics as well as current and projected shortages with comparison and metropolitan and nonmetropolitan projections. Discusses challenges impacting the workforce and the impact of primary care on population health. Includes state by state data on the primary care physician workforce.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.
Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2024 Focus Groups in Select States
Summarizes findings from 24 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2024, including three virtual focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Summarizes findings from 24 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2024, including three virtual focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Comparative Analysis of Physician Assistant/Associate National Certifying Examination (PANCE) Performance Trends: Pre and During COVID-19 Era
Analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic's influence on Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) scores and passing rates, utilizing 2017-2019 and 2020-2022 data of 59,459 Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) exam takers. Breaks down data by demographics and program details, including comparisons between small rural, large rural, and urban PA programs.
Author(s): Joshua Goodman, Andrzej Kozikowski, Andrew Dallas
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 1071
Date: 09/2024
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Analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic's influence on Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) scores and passing rates, utilizing 2017-2019 and 2020-2022 data of 59,459 Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) exam takers. Breaks down data by demographics and program details, including comparisons between small rural, large rural, and urban PA programs.
Author(s): Joshua Goodman, Andrzej Kozikowski, Andrew Dallas
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 1071
Date: 09/2024
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Gender Differences in Factors Associated with Rural Health Care Practice in Minnesota
Examines the sex-related factors in choosing to practice in a rural area. Analyzes 2021-2022 Minnesota Department of Health data according to healthcare profession, sex, race/ethnicity, and factors for choosing a rural location to practice, such as scope of practice, lifestyle, educational or internship options, and more.
Author(s): Selam Woldegerima, Teri Fritsma, Carrie Henning-Smith, Mark Rosenberg, Andrew P.J. Olson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 09/2024
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Examines the sex-related factors in choosing to practice in a rural area. Analyzes 2021-2022 Minnesota Department of Health data according to healthcare profession, sex, race/ethnicity, and factors for choosing a rural location to practice, such as scope of practice, lifestyle, educational or internship options, and more.
Author(s): Selam Woldegerima, Teri Fritsma, Carrie Henning-Smith, Mark Rosenberg, Andrew P.J. Olson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 09/2024
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2022-24 Florida Physician Assistant Workforce Survey Report
Results of a survey of 14,427 physician assistants (PAs) who renewed their Florida licenses in 2022 and 2024. Features statistics including number of Florida PAs whose primary practice locations were rural clinics or rural hospitals.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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Results of a survey of 14,427 physician assistants (PAs) who renewed their Florida licenses in 2022 and 2024. Features statistics including number of Florida PAs whose primary practice locations were rural clinics or rural hospitals.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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