In 2005, Oklahoma had 5,494 active medical physicians, according to data from the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. As of Feb. 24, the number stands at 6,132. It is unclear whether the state is suffering from a shortage of specialists or primary care physicians, as the numbers do not specify the nature of the physicians. According to the report, some physicians could be in administrative or ancillary positions, such as radiology or pathology.
Another compounding factor is age. One-quarter of all practicing Oklahoma physicians are 60 years old or over, meaning retiring physicians could pose a significant threat to physician numbers.
Read the Oklahoman report on retiring physicians.
Read more on the physician shortage:
-States Will Struggle to Find Primary Care for Booming Medicaid Population
–Five Key Benefits of Locum Tenens Physicians
–Rhode Island Representative Urges Insurers to Retain Physicians With Better Reimbursement
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