Geographic distribution, supply, and need for generalist physicians in Alaska

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Medical Geography

Background:

• Alaska experiences unique challenges in healthcare access due to its vast geography.
• Understanding the distribution of generalist physicians is crucial for equitable healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively describe the geographic distribution of generalist physicians in Alaska relative to its population.
• To identify areas with shortages of generalist physicians and quantify the extent of these shortages.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 443 generalist care physicians (family, general, general internal medicine, pediatric) and office managers in Alaska.
• Data collection on physician specialties, ZIP codes, employers, populations served, and direct patient care hours.
• Analysis of physician distribution against population needs and national benchmarks.

Main Results:

• A 30% overall shortage of generalist physicians in Alaska, equating to approximately 141 full-time-equivalent physicians.
• 15 out of 17 primary health care areas, including Anchorage, show a need for additional generalist physicians, with shortages ranging from 20% to 40%.
• Significant concerns identified regarding transportation and financial barriers to healthcare access, especially in remote areas.

Conclusions:

• Alaska requires a substantial increase in generalist physicians to meet population needs.
• Addressing healthcare access barriers and improving physician training and retention are critical for Alaska.
• Further research is needed on midlevel provider contributions, Alaska Native healthcare, and longitudinal practice patterns.