County-level health workforce data can be hard to come by. To help close that gap, the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center has released a new series of State Health Workforce Data Briefs offering county-level data on three key areas of the health workforce.
Each brief maps the county-by-county distribution of a distinct set of professions:
- Behavioral health: psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors
- Primary care: family physicians, internists, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
- Obstetrical care: obstetricians, advanced practice midwives, and midwives
The briefs are designed to support community organizations, policymakers, and planners working to improve access to care or better understand workforce challenges in their area, with data available for all 50 states.
“When counties are putting together a HRSA application or planning workforce initiatives like the RHTP, having accurate, county-level data on who is actually practicing there is essential,” said Janessa Graves, PhD, MPH, Director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center. “These briefs give planners and applicants a concrete starting point to characterize their workforce needs and make the case for where investment is most needed.”
Explore the briefs and find county-level data for your state:
- Primary Care: bit.ly/444ybwX
- Obstetrical Care: bit.ly/3R5uR1I
- Behavioral Health: bit.ly/4eMNgrY
These briefs were produced by RHRC team members Sara Woolcock, Holly Andrilla, Bev Marshall, and Janessa Graves. Special thanks to Bev Marshall for her help in formatting and design.