Where are the nation's primary care providers? It's not an easy answer

Clinicians in a rural area of Colorado are struggling to recruit primary care providers. Despite offering incentives such as loan repayments and expedited visas, the county has remained on the primary care shortage list for over 40 years. The federal government’s data on primary care shortage areas is flawed as it only counts physicians and not other healthcare professionals who provide primary care. Recent attempts to address the shortage, including increased funding and scholarships, have shown little long-term impact. Experts argue that more precise data is needed to effectively target resources and address the issue.