Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas? - Scorecard - MDSpire
Coming Soon: Introducing MDSpire News. Learn more
Conexiant’s news site is now MDSpire News. Learn more

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

Share

Clinical Scorecard: Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionHealthcare Workforce Distribution
Key MechanismsDifferences in healthcare worker availability between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Target PopulationUS population, particularly those in nonmetropolitan areas.
Care SettingPatient-facing healthcare occupations.

Key Highlights

  • Nonmetropolitan areas have 44% fewer healthcare workers per capita than metropolitan areas.
  • Only 8% of healthcare workers are employed in nonmetropolitan areas, despite 14% of the US population living there.
  • Psychologists and physicians show the largest workforce disparities between urban and rural settings.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

    Management

      Monitoring & Follow-up

        Risks

          Patient & Prescribing Data

          Residents of nonmetropolitan areas.

          Limited access to trained healthcare professionals may affect healthcare delivery.

          Clinical Best Practices

            Related Resources & Content

            Original Source(s)

            Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?

            • by Andrea Surnit

            • June 11, 2026

            Related Content

            Blindness Linked to Higher Loneliness Scores

            Analysis of more than 61,000 patients found higher odds of elevated loneliness scores among those reporting blindness and those with diabetic retinopathy, but not among patients with glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration.

            No, Keto Doesn't Cure Schizophrenia

            The viral claim was wrong. The damage it did was real.

            Breastfeeding May Help Infants Achieve Adequate Sleep

            A nationwide birth cohort found lower odds of short sleep at 1 year among infants breastfed during the first 6 months of life, regardless of formula supplementation.