The rural population of the U.S. is about 20 percent, or 61 million people. However, less than 9 percent of physicians practiced in nonmetropolitan counties.1 In recent years, shortages of non-physician providers including nurses, dentists, pharmacists, radiology and laboratory technicians, and mental health professionals have also become more apparent.

Problems with the distribution of physicians and other health professionals. as well as recruitment and retention issues in general are an ongoing problem for rural areas that compete with urban areas to maintain an adequate workforce. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) believes that it is essential for rural areas to have an adequate and able workforce to deliver needed health care services.