Special Report
States With the Fewest and Most Doctors Per Person Amid the Pandemic
Published:
The United States has been facing a doctors shortage for a few years, but the coronavirus crisis has exposed just how big the problem is. Medical institutions have been warning that there could be a shortage of up to 120,000 medical professionals by 2030 nationwide, according to research by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
To alleviate some of the current shortages, thousands of health care workers from all over the country, many of them retired, have asked to come back. But the labor shortage could worsen. The COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse, with the third wave shattering hospitalization and confirmed cases records almost on a daily basis. As the virus spreads, doctors and nurses will inevitably fall sick.
To find the number of doctors per capita in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on primary care physicians from the 2020 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Most of the states with the fewest doctors per capita are in the South. So far, the states with the most confirmed coronavirus cases also have relatively higher numbers of doctors per capita, and vice versa — with the exceptions of Texas and Georgia. These two states are in the top 10 states with fewest doctors per capita but in the top 15 of states with the most COVID-19 cases. In some places, there is also a shortage of hospitals. Amid the pandemic, these are the counties with the fewest hospitals.
Click here for the states with the fewest doctors per person
Click here for our methodology
The variation between states with the most and fewest doctors per capita is stark. It ranges from 112.8 doctors for every 100,000 people in the state with the most doctors per capita to 52.6 per 100,000 in the state with the fewest doctors per capita — less than half the concentration of the best state.
States with a lower doctor-to-resident ratio share some common attributes, including generally lower median household incomes and higher poverty rates than comparable U.S. figures. Among the 20 states with the fewest practicing physicians per capita, 14 have a poverty rate that is higher than the national average.
Many of the states with the fewest doctors per capita also have a relatively high uninsured population. Fifteen of the 20 states with the lowest concentration of doctors have uninsured rates that
are higher than the U.S. average of 8.9% — in one state, almost a fifth of the adult population is without health coverage. On the other hand, 19 of the 20 states with the most doctors per capita have lower uninsured rates than the national rate.
The country is relying on doctors, health care workers and the medical system as a whole – which is often overwhelmed even in normal times – now more than ever to fight the intensifying outbreak.
50. Mississippi
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,889
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 53
> Population: 2,986,530 — 17th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 552 — 17th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,216 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest (total: 36,317)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 09 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest (total: 257)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 24.1% — the highest
> Adults without health insurance: 12.1% — 6th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 14.6% — 2nd highest
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49. Nevada
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,768
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 57
> Population: 3,034,392 — 19th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 645 — 21st lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 13,584 per 100,000 people — 16th highest (total: 412,177)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 123 per 100,000 people — 20th highest (total: 3,719)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.9% — 10th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 11.2% — 7th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.2% — 22nd highest
48. Utah
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,727
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 58
> Population: 3,161,105 — 21st smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 587 — 19th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,740 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 54,997)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 27 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest (total: 838)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.9% — 6th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 9.4% — 17th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 7.1% — 2nd lowest
47. Texas
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,642
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 61
> Population: 28,701,845 — 2nd largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 5658 — 2nd highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 601 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest (total: 172,437)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 10 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest (total: 2,900)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.8% — 7th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 17.7% — the highest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.0% — 25th highest
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46. Oklahoma
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,616
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 62
> Population: 3,943,079 — 23rd smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 878 — 23rd lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 6,468 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest (total: 255,053)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 107 per 100,000 people — 24th highest (total: 4,200)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.8% — 8th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 14.2% — 2nd highest
> Adults with diabetes: 12.2% — 9th highest
45. Alabama
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,543
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 65
> Population: 4,887,871 — 24th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 743 — 22nd lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 103 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest (total: 5,015)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 02 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest (total: 79)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 22.0% — 5th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 10.0% — 14th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 14.2% — 3rd highest
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44. Georgia
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,528
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 65
> Population: 10,519,475 — 8th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1989 — 11th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 2,048 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest (total: 215,407)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 09 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest (total: 939)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.0% — 17th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 13.7% — 3rd highest
> Adults with diabetes: 11.8% — 11th highest
43. Kentucky
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,523
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 66
> Population: 4,468,402 — 25th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1042 — 25th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 27,959 per 100,000 people — 7th highest (total: 1,249,323)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 506 per 100,000 people — 7th highest (total: 22,594)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.9% — 3rd highest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.6% — 12th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 12.6% — 8th highest
42. Idaho
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,517
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 66
> Population: 1,754,208 — 12th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 283 — 7th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 22,836 per 100,000 people — 9th highest (total: 400,594)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 282 per 100,000 people — 14th highest (total: 4,943)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.6% — 12th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 11.1% — 8th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.9% — 13th lowest
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41. Indiana
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,511
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 66
> Population: 6,691,878 — 17th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1379 — 21st highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,189 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest (total: 79,535)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 17 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 1,110)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.8% — 11th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.3% — 21st highest
> Adults with diabetes: 11.9% — 10th highest
40. Arizona
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,505
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 66
> Population: 7,171,646 — 14th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1530 — 16th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 3,236 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest (total: 232,099)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 64 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest (total: 4,566)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.6% — 13th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 10.6% — 10th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.7% — 22nd lowest
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39. Arkansas
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,502
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 67
> Population: 3,013,825 — 18th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 450 — 13th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 2,062 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 62,137)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 47 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest (total: 1,413)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.2% — 4th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.2% — 23rd highest
> Adults with diabetes: 13.4% — 4th highest
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38. South Carolina
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,498
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 67
> Population: 5,084,127 — 23rd largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1252 — 22nd highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 8,263 per 100,000 people — 21st highest (total: 420,114)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 223 per 100,000 people — 16th highest (total: 11,331)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.2% — 15th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 10.5% — 11th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 12.8% — 5th highest
37. Louisiana
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,496
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 67
> Population: 4,659,978 — 25th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1243 — 23rd highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,748 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest (total: 81,437)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 22 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest (total: 1,003)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 22.0% — 6th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.0% — 25th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 12.8% — 5th highest
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36. Wyoming
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,474
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 68
> Population: 577,737 — the smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 133 — 3rd lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 37,471 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest (total: 216,486)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 328 per 100,000 people — 12th highest (total: 1,896)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.0% — 15th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 10.5% — 11th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.7% — 8th lowest
35. Missouri
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,430
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 70
> Population: 6,126,452 — 18th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1537 — 15th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 7,754 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest (total: 475,024)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 114 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest (total: 6,959)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.0% — 18th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 9.4% — 17th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 11.6% — 13th highest
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34. North Carolina
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,412
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 71
> Population: 10,383,620 — 9th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 2422 — 9th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 799 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest (total: 82,981)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 10 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest (total: 1,013)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.5% — 14th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 10.7% — 9th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 11.2% — 15th highest
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33. Tennessee
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,396
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 72
> Population: 6,770,010 — 16th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1233 — 24th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 5,834 per 100,000 people — 24th highest (total: 394,990)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 82 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest (total: 5,543)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.7% — 12th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 10.1% — 13th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 12.8% — 5th highest
32. Delaware
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,392
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 72
> Population: 967,171 — 6th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 310 — 9th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 72,979 per 100,000 people — the highest (total: 705,827)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 2,807 per 100,000 people — the highest (total: 27,149)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.0% — 20th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.7% — 14th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 11.5% — 14th highest
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31. Florida
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,379
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 73
> Population: 21,299,325 — 3rd largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 4259 — 4th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 507 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest (total: 108,088)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 08 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest (total: 1,749)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.5% — 23rd highest
> Adults without health insurance: 13.0% — 4th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.6% — 18th highest
30. Iowa
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,372
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 73
> Population: 3,156,145 — 20th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 506 — 16th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 11,660 per 100,000 people — 18th highest (total: 368,016)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 549 per 100,000 people — 5th highest (total: 17,321)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.5% — 11th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 4.7% — 6th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.7% — 22nd lowest
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29. New Mexico
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,339
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 75
> Population: 2,095,428 — 15th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 567 — 18th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,182 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest (total: 24,771)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 27 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest (total: 564)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.6% — 9th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 9.5% — 16th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.9% — 13th lowest
28. Nebraska
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,327
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 75
> Population: 1,929,268 — 14th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 307 — 8th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 8,715 per 100,000 people — 20th highest (total: 168,139)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 120 per 100,000 people — 21st highest (total: 2,315)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.4% — 9th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.3% — 21st highest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.4% — 18th lowest
27. South Dakota
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,322
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 76
> Population: 882,235 — 5th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 105 — the lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 15,850 per 100,000 people — 15th highest (total: 139,834)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 137 per 100,000 people — 19th highest (total: 1,205)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.4% — 4th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 9.8% — 15th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.9% — 25th lowest
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26. Virginia
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,319
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 76
> Population: 8,517,685 — 12th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1944 — 12th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 797 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest (total: 67,875)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 09 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest (total: 736)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.8% — 19th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.8% — 19th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.5% — 20th highest
25. Ohio
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,312
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 76
> Population: 11,689,442 — 7th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 3661 — 7th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 2,780 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest (total: 324,956)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 36 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 4,194)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.0% — 19th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 6.5% — 18th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 11.8% — 11th highest
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24. North Dakota
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,305
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 77
> Population: 760,077 — 4th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 117 — 2nd lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 21,699 per 100,000 people — 11th highest (total: 164,931)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 521 per 100,000 people — 6th highest (total: 3,961)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.1% — 17th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 7.3% — 22nd lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.0% — 14th lowest
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23. Kansas
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,295
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 77
> Population: 2,911,510 — 16th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 463 — 14th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 11,760 per 100,000 people — 17th highest (total: 342,403)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 137 per 100,000 people — 18th highest (total: 3,984)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.1% — 20th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.8% — 19th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.1% — 24th highest
22. West Virginia
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,287
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 78
> Population: 1,805,832 — 13th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 606 — 20th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 23,622 per 100,000 people — 8th highest (total: 426,576)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 572 per 100,000 people — 4th highest (total: 10,321)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.9% — 2nd highest
> Adults without health insurance: 6.4% — 17th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 14.9% — the highest
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21. Michigan
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,277
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 78
> Population: 9,995,915 — 10th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 4137 — 5th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 2,569 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest (total: 256,844)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 110 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest (total: 11,004)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.4% — 24th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.4% — 9th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.8% — 16th highest
20. Wisconsin
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,270
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 79
> Population: 5,813,568 — 20th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1390 — 20th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 3,699 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest (total: 215,027)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 83 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest (total: 4,846)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.7% — 23rd lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.5% — 11th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.3% — 17th lowest
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19. California
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,261
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 79
> Population: 39,557,045 — the largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 8003 — the highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 34 per 100,000 people — the lowest (total: 13,348)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 01 per 100,000 people — the lowest (total: 227)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.2% — 25th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 7.2% — 21st lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.6% — 7th lowest
18. Illinois
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,250
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 80
> Population: 12,741,080 — 6th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 3529 — 8th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,971 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest (total: 251,123)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 52 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest (total: 6,584)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.2% — 25th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 7.0% — 19th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.9% — 25th lowest
17. Montana
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,248
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 80
> Population: 1,062,305 — 8th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 222 — 6th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 18,645 per 100,000 people — 12th highest (total: 198,065)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 194 per 100,000 people — 17th highest (total: 2,062)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.7% — 13th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.2% — 23rd highest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.1% — 4th lowest
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16. Pennsylvania
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,237
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 81
> Population: 12,807,060 — 5th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 4048 — 6th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,314 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest (total: 168,295)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 14 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest (total: 1,786)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.5% — 22nd highest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.5% — 11th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.6% — 18th highest
15. Colorado
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,219
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 82
> Population: 5,695,564 — 21st largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1462 — 18th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 4,283 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest (total: 243,931)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 47 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 2,682)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.5% — 10th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 7.5% — 24th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 6.3% — the lowest
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14. New York
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,219
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 82
> Population: 19,542,209 — 4th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 5417 — 3rd highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,953 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest (total: 381,617)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 30 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest (total: 5,944)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.6% — 22nd lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.4% — 9th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.8% — 23rd lowest
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13. Connecticut
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,202
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 83
> Population: 3,572,665 — 22nd smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 941 — 24th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 22,044 per 100,000 people — 10th highest (total: 787,573)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 395 per 100,000 people — 10th highest (total: 14,116)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.8% — 5th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.3% — 7th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.9% — 13th lowest
12. New Jersey
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,189
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 84
> Population: 8,908,520 — 11th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1928 — 13th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 1,240 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest (total: 110,510)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 12 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest (total: 1,035)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.7% — 21st highest
> Adults without health insurance: 7.4% — 23rd lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.5% — 20th lowest
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11. Washington
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,183
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 85
> Population: 7,535,591 — 13th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1613 — 14th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 250 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 18,842)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 03 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 262)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.6% — 18th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 6.4% — 17th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.8% — 9th lowest
10. Hawaii
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,142
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 88
> Population: 1,420,491 — 11th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 413 — 12th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 31,244 per 100,000 people — 6th highest (total: 443,822)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 690 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 9,806)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.2% — 7th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 4.1% — 4th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.3% — 21st highest
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9. Maryland
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,141
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 88
> Population: 6,042,718 — 19th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1494 — 17th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 17,510 per 100,000 people — 13th highest (total: 1,058,074)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 321 per 100,000 people — 13th highest (total: 19,423)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.9% — 14th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 6.0% — 15th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.7% — 17th highest
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8. Minnesota
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,118
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 89
> Population: 5,611,179 — 22nd largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1442 — 19th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 711 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest (total: 39,912)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 14 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest (total: 793)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.1% — the lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 4.4% — 5th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.3% — 5th lowest
7. New Hampshire
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,102
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 91
> Population: 1,356,458 — 10th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 347 — 10th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 9,415 per 100,000 people — 19th highest (total: 127,715)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 379 per 100,000 people — 11th highest (total: 5,146)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.1% — 3rd lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 5.7% — 14th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.3% — 17th lowest
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6. Alaska
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,099
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 91
> Population: 737,438 — 3rd smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 199 — 5th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 35,336 per 100,000 people — 4th highest (total: 260,581)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 455 per 100,000 people — 9th highest (total: 3,356)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.1% — 16th highest
> Adults without health insurance: 12.6% — 5th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 7.9% — 3rd lowest
5. Oregon
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,063
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 94
> Population: 4,190,713 — 24th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 1079 — 25th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 32,016 per 100,000 people — 5th highest (total: 1,341,700)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 474 per 100,000 people — 8th highest (total: 19,876)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.7% — 24th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 7.1% — 20th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.3% — 17th lowest
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4. Rhode Island
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 1,029
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 97
> Population: 1,057,315 — 7th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 469 — 15th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 16,166 per 100,000 people — 14th highest (total: 170,924)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 252 per 100,000 people — 15th highest (total: 2,660)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.4% — 21st lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 4.1% — 4th lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 9.5% — 20th lowest
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3. Massachusetts
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 968
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 103
> Population: 6,902,149 — 15th largest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 2223 — 10th highest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 5,278 per 100,000 people — 25th highest (total: 364,276)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 101 per 100,000 people — 25th highest (total: 6,950)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.4% — 8th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 2.8% — the lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.9% — 13th lowest
2. Maine
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 898
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 111
> Population: 1,338,404 — 9th smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 399 — 11th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 2,767 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 37,036)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 11 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest (total: 142)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.0% — 16th lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 8.0% — 25th highest
> Adults with diabetes: 10.2% — 22nd highest
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1. Vermont
> Primary care doctor to population ratio: 1 to 886
> Primary care doctors per 100,000 people: 113
> Population: 626,299 — 2nd smallest
> Total no. of ER doctors: 152 — 4th lowest
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of Dec 7, 2020: 43,091 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 269,877)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec 7, 2020: 621 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest (total: 3,889)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.1% — 2nd lowest
> Adults without health insurance: 4.0% — 2nd lowest
> Adults with diabetes: 8.4% — 6th lowest
Methodology
To identify the states with the most and fewest doctors per capita, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on primary care physicians per capita from the 2020 report by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
The share of each state’s adult population without health insurance, the share of adults with diabetes, as well as the number of adults reporting they are in fair or poor health also came from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.
The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases, death toll, and the number of people who have recovered from the novel coronavirus were obtained by 24/7 Tempo from state and local health departments.
The number of emergency room doctors in every state came from Healthgrades.com, a site that provides information and evaluates physicians, hospitals, and health care providers.
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