Question

What is a geographic maldistribution? In addition to the National Health Services Corps, what other recommendations do you have to promote the equal distribution of physicians across the United States?

Answer 1

In simple terms, geographic maldistribution refers to the uneven distribution of physicians and doctors in rural and urban areas of United States and other geographical regions. It has been found that surplus number of physicians and other healthcare professionals are located in urban and suburban areas while a big shortage of healthcare workforce in rural and other backword areas. It has been estimated that 20% of United States population live in rural areas while only 9% of United States's total number of physician work in these rural communities.

In addition to the National Health Services Corps, some other recommendations to promote the equal distribution of physicians across the United States are -

i. By training more or by allowing more physicians to immigrate in the country.

ii. Enhancing the reimbursement strategies of Medicare and Medicaid and improving the payscale and other benefits for physicians working in rural communities.

iii. If the federal and state government work in collaboration to distribute the available healthcare resources more effectively and evenly around all parts of the United States.

iv. By certain changes in the regulations and licensing by the medical boards to attract and promote mid-level practitioners in the country.

v. Introducing and updating the guidelines to promote and implement more numbers of district doctors extensively.

vi. A different approach in the overall healthcare and medical education system that promotes training of more number of physicians willing to work in rural regions.