The field of surgery faces a significant challenge in the United States as the need
for rural surgeons continues to grow. It is estimated that almost 20% of the population
lives in rural areas,
1
but less than 13% of the nation's surgeons practice in these areas, and a higher
percentage of rural surgeons are nearing the age of retirement.
2
In addition, in the past 20 years the number of surgeons per capita in the United
States has decreased at a much higher rate in rural compared to urban areas (29% versus
18%).
3
Perhaps in part due to the lack of rural physicians, rural populations have poorer
health outcomes than their urban counterparts.
- Nuako A.
- Liu J.
- Pham G.
- et al.
Quantifying rural disparity in healthcare utilization in the United States: analysis
of a large Midwestern Healthcare System.
PLoS One. 2022; 17https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263718
3
,
- Nuako A.
- Liu J.
- Pham G.
- et al.
Quantifying rural disparity in healthcare utilization in the United States: analysis
of a large Midwestern Healthcare System.
PLoS One. 2022; 17https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263718
4
,
5
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References
- Equitable health care and low-density living in the United States.Narrat Inq Bioeth. 2019; 9: 121-125https://doi.org/10.1353/nib.2019.0037
- The Distribution of the General Surgery Workforce in Rural and Urban America in 2019. Policy Brief. WWAMI Rural Health Research Center.University of Washington, 2021 (March 2021)
- Quantifying rural disparity in healthcare utilization in the United States: analysis of a large Midwestern Healthcare System.PLoS One. 2022; 17https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263718
- Social determinants of health associated with poor outcome for rural patients following resected pancreatic cancer.J Gastrointest Oncol. 2021; 12: 2567-2578https://doi.org/10.21037/jgo-20-583
- Invasive cancer incidence, 2004–2013, and deaths, 2006–2015, in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan counties — United States. MMWR.Surveillance Summaries. 2017; 66: 1-13https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6614a1
- Preparedness for rural community leadership and its impact on practice location of family medicine graduates.Aust J Rural Health. 2005; 13: 3-7https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1854.2004.00637.x
- Cultivating country doctors: preparing learners for rural life and community leadership.Fam Med. 2018; 50: 685-690https://doi.org/10.22454/fammed.2018.972692
- Choosing Leadership: A Workbook.B2 Books, an Agate imprint, 2018
- Leadership in Surgery.Springer International Publishing, 2019
Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 25, 2022
Accepted:
October 21,
2022
Received in revised form:
September 25,
2022
Received:
September 1,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
