Rural Healthcare Workforce – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Healthcare Workforce.
Behavioral Health: Available Workforce Information and Federal Actions to Help Recruit and Retain Providers
Examines the available information on the behavioral health workforce, including federal data on the number of providers nationwide and the projection of the supply and demand for behavioral health providers in 2030. Identifies key barriers to recruiting and retaining behavioral health providers, as well as actions federal agencies have taken to support recruiting and retaining these providers. Outlines federal loan repayment, scholarship, and training programs designed to address workforce challenges in rural and other underserved areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Examines the available information on the behavioral health workforce, including federal data on the number of providers nationwide and the projection of the supply and demand for behavioral health providers in 2030. Identifies key barriers to recruiting and retaining behavioral health providers, as well as actions federal agencies have taken to support recruiting and retaining these providers. Outlines federal loan repayment, scholarship, and training programs designed to address workforce challenges in rural and other underserved areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Social Workers in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of social workers in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in social workers per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Describes the distribution of social workers in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in social workers per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Psychiatrists in the U.S., 1995-2019
Describes the distribution of psychiatrists in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychiatrists per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 1995-2019.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Describes the distribution of psychiatrists in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychiatrists per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 1995-2019.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of psychiatric nurse practitioners in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychiatric nurse practitioners per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Describes the distribution of psychiatric nurse practitioners in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychiatric nurse practitioners per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Personal Care Aides: Assessing Self-Care Needs And Worker Shortages In Rural Areas
Results of a study addressing the need for and supply of workers to provide personal care services in rural communities. Features statistics on characteristics of personal care aides employed during 2013-2017 with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and county-level maps showing percentages of adults with self-care disabilities and supply of personal care aides per 1,000 adults with self-care disabilities.
Author(s): Susan A. Chapman, Lillie Greiman, Timothy Bates et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(10)
Date: 10/2022
view details
Results of a study addressing the need for and supply of workers to provide personal care services in rural communities. Features statistics on characteristics of personal care aides employed during 2013-2017 with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and county-level maps showing percentages of adults with self-care disabilities and supply of personal care aides per 1,000 adults with self-care disabilities.
Author(s): Susan A. Chapman, Lillie Greiman, Timothy Bates et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(10)
Date: 10/2022
view details
Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Counselors in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of various types of counselors in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in counselors per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Describes the distribution of various types of counselors in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in counselors per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Audiology, Medicine, and Pharmacy Interprofessional Preliminary Interviews and Discussions: Improving Hearing Health Care in Rural Alabama
Results of a study to determine the feasibility of interprofessional collaboration among physicians and audiologists and pharmacists and audiologists, to improve access and affordability of hearing health care in rural communities. Based on information from online surveys and virtual discussion groups with 16 family physicians and medicine residents at the University of Alabama and 15 pharmacists who worked in independently owned community pharmacies in Alabama.
Author(s): Emma B. Brothers, Marcia J. Hay-McCutcheon, Peter J. Hughes, M. Louanne Friend
Citation: American Journal of Audiology, 31(3), 656-668
Date: 09/2022
view details
Results of a study to determine the feasibility of interprofessional collaboration among physicians and audiologists and pharmacists and audiologists, to improve access and affordability of hearing health care in rural communities. Based on information from online surveys and virtual discussion groups with 16 family physicians and medicine residents at the University of Alabama and 15 pharmacists who worked in independently owned community pharmacies in Alabama.
Author(s): Emma B. Brothers, Marcia J. Hay-McCutcheon, Peter J. Hughes, M. Louanne Friend
Citation: American Journal of Audiology, 31(3), 656-668
Date: 09/2022
view details
Configuration and Delivery of Primary Care in Rural and Urban Settings
Compares structure, capabilities, and payment reform participation of isolated, small town, micropolitan, and metropolitan physician practices. Features statistics on characteristics of physician practices, Medicare beneficiaries, and beneficiary utilization in 2017, with breakdowns by rurality.
Author(s): Taressa K. Fraze, Valerie A. Lewis, Andrew Wood, Helen Newton, Carrie H. Colla
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3045-3053
Date: 09/2022
view details
Compares structure, capabilities, and payment reform participation of isolated, small town, micropolitan, and metropolitan physician practices. Features statistics on characteristics of physician practices, Medicare beneficiaries, and beneficiary utilization in 2017, with breakdowns by rurality.
Author(s): Taressa K. Fraze, Valerie A. Lewis, Andrew Wood, Helen Newton, Carrie H. Colla
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3045-3053
Date: 09/2022
view details
Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Psychologists in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of psychologists in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychologists per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Describes the distribution of psychologists in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychologists per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): C.H.A. Andrilla, S.C. Woolcock, L.A. Garberson, D.G. Patterson
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Review of Rural U.S. Economic and Health Care Trends
Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
view details
Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 10/13/2025