RURAL AMERICA: DISTRIBUTION INEQUALITIES AND

SHORTAGES IN THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE

This paper examines the shortage and maldistribution of primary care physicians in rural areas across the U.S. The two main research questions ask: Why is there a distribution and supply issue of primary care physicians (PCP) in rural areas of the U.S. and what government policies or programs have successfully intervened to address these existing supply and distribution issues? From our research and review of literature, PCPs are most likely to practice rural medicine if they are natives of rural areas, were exposed to rural medical practice during medical school, or are of older age (between 46 to 65 years old). In response to the rural PCP workforce shortage, we recommend the expansion of the National Health Service Corps program and of rural medical school programs across the country. We conclude our discussion by highlighting the timely importance of this topic with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the devastating effects it has had on rural communities throughout the U.S.