News Summary
West Virginia has achieved notable rankings in physician availability, placing 15th nationwide for primary care providers and 23rd for specialists. Despite having fewer total physicians compared to its neighbors, the state’s per capita metrics indicate strong access to healthcare services. Contributing factors include the output of local medical schools and the need to address ongoing healthcare staffing challenges, particularly in light of issues faced by surrounding states. These developments illustrate both the progress and challenges in maintaining healthcare access within West Virginia.
West Virginia has emerged as a notable player in physician availability, ranking 15th nationally for primary care providers (PCPs) per capita. With a rate of 174.13 PCPs per 100,000 residents, the state demonstrates commendable access to basic healthcare services, particularly impressive given its 39th ranking nationwide for population size.
In terms of specialist availability, West Virginia ranks 23rd nationally, with 158.23 specialists per 100,000 residents. This is significant for a state whose sheer number of physicians—3,082 PCPs and 2,801 specialists—places it at 38th in the country. Despite the lower total numbers of physicians compared to its neighbors, West Virginia’s per capita rankings highlight its capacity to meet primary healthcare needs effectively.
When looking at surrounding states, Maryland stands out with a ranking of 5th in PCP availability (202.71 per 100,000 residents), followed closely by Pennsylvania (6th at 201.35) and Ohio (12th at 187.97). Virginia and Kentucky lag behind, with Virginia at 27th (152.28) and Kentucky at 41st (130.07). In the realm of specialist availability, Maryland again leads at 4th place (238.25 per 100,000), while Pennsylvania (7th at 213.74) and Ohio (9th at 202.18) also surpass West Virginia, which sits just below Virginia at 22nd with a rate of 159.33 specialists per 100,000 residents.
A key factor contributing to West Virginia’s physician availability is its medical education institutions. The West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine is noteworthy for having the highest ratio of medical students per 100,000 people in the nation. In the academic year 2022-2023, the school produced 106 medical graduates, with 48 of them choosing to remain in West Virginia for post-graduate residency training. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the number of graduates decreased to 96, of which 41 stayed in the state for residency.
The WVU School of Medicine also currently boasts 278 incoming residents and fellows and offers 96 training programs, with a remarkable 72 programs unique to West Virginia. Additionally, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine enrolls over 800 students, contributing heavily to the state’s medical workforce, as approximately 40% of the state’s physicians are graduates from this institution.
Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has also made a contribution, graduating 68 doctoral candidates and 29 master’s students, while boasting an enrollment of 325 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Furthermore, Vandalia Health employs 152 and 449 physicians across multiple hospital facilities in the state, further enhancing local access to healthcare.
In a national comparison, West Virginia’s numbers are significantly lower than surrounding states like Pennsylvania, which has 26,334 PCPs—approximately 8.5 times that of West Virginia. Similarly, Ohio has 21,109 PCPs, highlighting the effect of geography and population density on healthcare provider distribution.
Although West Virginia has made strides in physician availability, it faces challenges similar to those in neighboring states. For instance, Virginia is grappling with a nursing shortage, currently facing a demand for 82,540 registered nurses (RNs) while only having 57,720 available. The situation is projected to worsen by 2030. In light of the staffing issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia hospitals are striving to address these shortages through funding initiatives for nursing education and programs to bolster student enrollment.
Overall, West Virginia’s position in physician availability amid the broader rural healthcare challenges represents both progress and ongoing challenges that the state must navigate in ensuring sustained healthcare access for its residents.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Dominion Post: Healthcare West Virginia Ranks High for Physicians Per Capita
- Virginia Mercury: Legislation to Boost Healthcare Services for VA Students Moves Forward
- News and Sentinel: Americans for Prosperity Pushing for Changes to West Virginia Education & Healthcare
- WTRF: West Virginia Elementary Students Gain Access to In-School Healthcare
- WSLS: Virginia Tackles Nursing Shortage with New Graduates Legislation and Education
- Wikipedia: Healthcare in the United States
- Google Search: West Virginia healthcare
- Google Scholar: Healthcare in West Virginia
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Healthcare in West Virginia
- Google News: West Virginia healthcare
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
