Health Care Provider Impact Statement for Island County
Number of docs in 2009: 117. That's 14.4 physicians per 10,000 population1, the eighth-lowest rate in western Washington. Washington's rate is 21.2 physicians per 10,000; the national average is about 20.2 per 10,000.2 Washington imports about 85% of its physicians from other states or nations.3
Health professional breakout: Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville says it employs 47 MDs, six DOs, eight physician assistants and eight nurse practitioners.4
Number of current WWAMI Spokane medical students fromIsland County: zero
Number of current WSU pharmacy students from Island County: zero
Number of current WSU nursing students from Island County: zero
Number of current WSU nutrition and exercise physiology students from Island County: one
The county does not have any medical education sites.5
UW School of Medicine clinical faculty in Island County: none6
Health professionals in Island County who graduated from Washington colleges: Whidbey General Hospital has seven UW School of Medicine graduates on its roster of doctors. Ten served residencies and one a fellowship in Washington. Three of the hospital's physician assistants graduated from UW's MEDEX program.7
Island County unemployment rate (Nov. 2012): 7.4% (state average 7.8% seasonally adjusted, 7.3% not seasonally adjusted)8
Health care/social assistance employment in Island County9: 1,486 (out of 14,800 jobs). It's the county's fourth-largest employer, providing about $10.3 million in payroll, about 8.3% of the county's total payroll.
1According to the UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
2UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
3Association of American Medical Colleges
4Numbers gleaned from hospital and clinic websites
5UW Clinical faculty listing: http://depts.washington.edu/fammed/clinical_faculty/listings
6Numbers calculated from hospital and clinic websites
7http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Education/WWAMI/Documents/2011%20WWAMI%20Maps.pdf
8Washington Department of Employment Security
9Washington Department of Employment Security (third quarter, 2010)