Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas? - Report - MDSpire

Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?

National survey data found lower per-capita representation across 23 occupations in nonmetropolitan communities, with the largest workforce differences observed among psychologists, physicians, and surgeons.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • June 11, 2026

  • 3 min

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Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?

Overview

A cross-sectional analysis reveals that nonmetropolitan areas have significantly fewer patient-facing health care professionals compared to metropolitan areas, with the largest disparities in highly trained roles such as psychologists and physicians.

Background

This study examines the distribution of patient-facing health care workers across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.

Data Highlights

Area TypeHealth Care Workers per 10,000 Residents
Nonmetropolitan231
Metropolitan415

Key Findings

  • Nonmetropolitan areas have 44% fewer health care workers per capita compared to metropolitan areas.
  • Only 8% of health care workers are employed in nonmetropolitan areas, despite 14% of the US population residing there.
  • Psychologists and physicians are the most affected, with nonmetropolitan areas having about one-quarter and one-third as many, respectively, compared to metropolitan areas.
  • Occupations requiring extensive training show larger disparities in availability between urban and rural settings.
  • Assistant-level occupations exhibit smaller disparities, with some being more common in nonmetropolitan areas under certain classifications.

Clinical Implications

The significant shortage of health care professionals in rural areas may hinder access to necessary medical and psychological services for residents.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the disparities in health care professional availability between rural and urban areas.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Burus T, Semprini J, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2023 -- Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?
  2. ADA News — 'The community knows you and trusts you': New dentists share advantages of rural practice
  3. The ASCO Post — Patients With Cancer in Rural America Remain Underserved
  4. The ASCO Post — Stemming the Growing Cancer Crisis in Rural Appalachia
  5. Journal of General Internal Medicine (Springer) — A Decentralized, Academically Integrated Training Model for Rural General Practice in Japan: A Descriptive Program Evaluation
  6. 'The community knows you and trusts you': New dentists share advantages of rural practice
  7. Patients With Cancer in Rural America Remain Underserved
  8. Stemming the Growing Cancer Crisis in Rural Appalachia
  9. Study Finds Fewer Health Care Workers in Rural Areas, with Largest Gaps in Highly Trained Roles
  10. State of the Behavioral Health Workforce, 2025
  11. Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce
  12. Physician Workforce Projections | AAMC
  13. Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule | CMS
  14. Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule | CMS
  15. Fact Sheet: Telehealth Waivers | AHA
  16. Rural Behavioral Health: Telehealth Challenges and Opportunities | SAMHSA
  17. Psychiatry.org - Telepsychiatry
  18. Collaborative Care for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care: A Hybrid Type 2 Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA Psychiatry | JAMA Network
  19. Collaborative Care for Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Illness: The CLARO Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA Network
  20. Telehealth-Facilitated Mental Health Care Access and Continuity for Patients Served at the Health Resources and Services Administration–Funded Health Centers - Benjamin Picillo, Helen Yu-Lefler, Cuong Bui, Minh Wendt, Alek Sripipatana, 2025
  21. Effectiveness of telepsychiatry interventions for youth with depressive and/or anxiety disorders: A systematic review with meta-analysis - Elaine Tian, Margaret Kay Ho, Oscar Hou In Chou, Samantha Chong, Chi Ting Kwan, Athene Hoi-Ying Lam, Kai-Tai Chan, 2025
  22. An analysis of telehealth in a post-pandemic rural, Midwestern community: increased comfort and a preference for primary care | BMC Health Services Research | Springer Nature Link

Original Source(s)

Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • June 11, 2026

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