Access to Orthopaedic Care in Rural America

Medical care, including orthopaedic care, is suffering from a dearth of physicians in rural America. This affects access to local care in these communities and the viability of rural hospitals and undermines efforts to achieve healthcare equity. The relative lack of orthopaedic surgeons in rural areas stems from many issues including an aging rural orthopaedic workforce, fewer medical students from rural backgrounds, lack of notable exposure to rural practice during residency, increased subspecialization of trainees, and limited local community and health system opportunities, as well as financial issues. Robust surgery programs, including orthopaedic surgery programs, help rural hospitals stay open and provide critically needed services. This is a complex problem rural communities cannot solve on their own. Effecting change begins with awareness and data collection. There is also a need to create a pipeline of orthopaedic talent committed to rural practice. Rural orthopaedic surgeons need support from hospitals, industry, healthcare systems, professional organizations, government, and academic institutions to thrive and bring orthopaedic care to these underserved communities.