Rural areas in New York experience a severe shortage of healthcare professionals
The State Comptroller’s Office has released a report highlighting potential solutions to improve healthcare access in rural New York counties, focusing on addressing workforce shortages and transportation barriers.
The report, released in August 2023, notes that rural areas in New York have just four primary care doctors per 10,000 people, less than half the state average. This shortage extends to other healthcare professionals, with fewer than 5% of medical graduates in New York planning to work in rural areas.
Improving Transportation Access
Because most rural counties have limited or infrequent public transportation, improving and expanding bus or paratransit services—especially inter-county networks and services for broader demographics beyond the elderly—could enhance patient access to care facilities. The Comptroller’s Office also recommends expanding mobile clinics, school-based health centers, and telemedicine in counties with poor transportation and limited broadband.
Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortages
The report emphasizes severe shortfalls in primary care, pediatrics, OBGYN, dentistry, and mental health professionals in these counties. Strategies to attract and retain healthcare workers might include enhancing incentives such as loan forgiveness programs, better workforce planning, and creating new job opportunities that also support rural economies. However, it's worth noting that most loan forgiveness programs are geared toward nonprofit or public sector work, which may not always reach rural clinics.
Focused Workforce Development and Recruitment Efforts
The Comptroller’s office and rural roundtables pointed to the importance of targeted recruitment and retention strategies for key healthcare professions critical to rural health. This could involve focused workforce development and recruitment efforts, as well as providing rural-specific training to attract and retain healthcare workers.
Structural Challenges
The report also notes structural challenges like low population density, aging populations, and labor force declines, making these interventions vital to sustainably improving healthcare quality and access in rural communities.
The Current State of Healthcare in Rural New York
Across the board, the number of providers falls well below state and national averages. For OB/GYNs, the report found a ratio of 0.4 per 10,000 - or one for every 23,000 people. Every one of the 16 counties is designated a Mental Health Shortage Area, and rural areas have only 6.9 practitioners per 10,000 residents, far short of the state average of 16.1. Pediatric care is even scarcer, with only 0.5 pediatricians per 10,000 residents. Dentist access is equally dire, with rural counties averaging 3.6 dentists per 10,000 people, compared to 8.3 statewide.
The Impact on Communities
Residents in these regions may be at greater risk, and these communities could become harder to sustain. For instance, four counties have no OB/GYNs at all, meaning women often travel long distances for maternal care. In Sullivan County, nearly 28,000 people are considered underserved. Hamilton County has no dentists at all.
Federal Policy Changes and Future Implications
Federal policy changes could potentially cut funding to rural hospitals already struggling with thin margins. Without urgent, coordinated action, rural health care shortages will continue to grow. The Comptroller’s Office report concludes that addressing these issues is crucial for the health and sustainability of rural communities in New York.
- The report underscores the importance of science in developing potential solutions for improving healthcare access in rural New York counties.
- The shortage of primary care doctors and other healthcare professionals in rural areas necessitates a focus on workplace-wellness, including mental-health and therapies-and-treatments.
- Chronic-diseases, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, and eye-health concerns are prevalent in rural communities, making healthcare access a critical concern.
- Hearing issues and neurological-disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's, may also impact rural residents, requiring specialized care.
- With skin-conditions, including skin cancer, being a health concern for everyone, it is important that rural communities have access to medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment.
- Improving cardiovascular-health and preventing accidents, especially in hazardous workplaces, is essential for ensuring the overall well-being of rural residents.
- The report highlights the need for medicare and other government policies that prioritize rural healthcare access and address the unique challenges faced by these communities.
- Education-and-self-development, particularly in health-and-wellness, could help rural residents learn about early detection and prevention techniques for various medical-conditions.
- Fitness-and-exercise plays a crucial role in personal-growth and overall health, contributing to a more active and engaged rural population.
- Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga, can aid in stress reduction and mental-health management for rural residents.
- Online-education and job-search platforms can help rural residents gain access to education and career opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible due to geographical constraints.
- General-news sources can help rural residents stay informed about healthcare advancements, policy-and-legislation updates, and relevant political issues impacting their communities.
- Crime-and-justice, including domestic violence and substance abuse, can exacerbate health issues in rural communities, requiring a holistic approach to wellness.
- Migration patterns can influence the availability of healthcare resources and the overall health of rural communities, making it essential to understand their dynamics.
- Connections between nutrition, health, and productivity in the workplace underscore the importance of promoting healthy eating habits among rural residents.
- Career-development opportunities, such as skills-training programs, can help rural residents build careers in healthcare, contributing to a more robust workforce and improved healthcare access.
- Coordinated efforts between government, healthcare providers, community organizations, and local residents are essential in addressing rural healthcare shortages and improving healthcare access.
- In the long run, lifelong-learning and continuous goal-setting can lead to sustainable improvements in healthcare access and quality of life for rural residents.
