Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas? - Takeaways - 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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  • 1

    Psychologists and physicians are less accessible in nonmetropolitan areas compared to metropolitan communities.

  • 2

    The analysis included data from 588,489 respondents in patient-facing health care occupations from the American Community Survey.

  • 3

    Nonmetropolitan areas had 231 health care workers per 10,000 residents, while metropolitan areas had 415 per 10,000 residents.

  • 4

    Psychologists and physicians showed the largest workforce differences, with nonmetropolitan areas having about one-quarter and one-third as many, respectively.

  • 5

    The study could not determine the causes of geographic differences in health care access or their effects on quality and outcomes.

Original Source(s)

Psychologists, Physicians Scarcer in Rural Areas?

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • June 11, 2026

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