NC
Strategic Scorecard |
1.3.2 Primary
Care Access |
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Target: At
least 95% of population have access to primary health
care
Actual: 92%
have access
US
Rank 2005: 15th (up
from 28th in 2000)
SE
Rank 2005: 2nd (up
from 3rd in 2000)
SE
Region: AL
FL GA KY MS NC SC TN VA WV Updated 3/19/06
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Primary Performance Indicator
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Percent
of Population With Access to Primary Health Care
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Performance
Trend:
The
trend depicts the degree to which actual
performance has approached the target in
recent years. |
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Comments
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NC
has been gradually climbing toward its primary health
care access target since 2000, and, according to this
indicator, has the 2nd best primary health care provider
access in the region and the 15th best in the nation.
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In 2002, NC had the 6th highest
per capita health and hospital spending rate in the US
and the 3rd highest in the SE region. |
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Definition
(What Is Being Measured)
Percent
of population with primary medical practitioners
(e.g., family and general practice doctors, internists,
OB/GYNs and pediatricians) within reasonable
geographic bounds
Source: DHHS,
Div. of Shortage Designation, Selected Statistics on
Health Professional Shortage Areas;rankings from
Morgan Quitno. American Medical Association,
Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the US; ;rankings
from Morgan Quitno. |
Relevance
(Why This Is Important)
A
plentiful supply of medical resources, within reasonable geographic
proximity, is needed to help communities ensure adequate prevention
and treatment for injuries and illnesses. |
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| Other
Highlights |
| North
Carolina |
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According to
more specific indicators, some shortages persist. |
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In
2004, NC was 24th in the US in the number of community
hospital beds per 100,000 population (Source: American
Hospital Association, Hospital Statistics). |
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In
2003, NC was 23rd (tied) in the US and 4th in SE in the
number of physicians per 100,000 population and 29th in
the US and 6th in the SE in the number of registered nurses
per 100,000 population (Source US Labor Dept., BLS). |
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NC's
supply of physicians has increased over 18% on a per capita
basis over the last 10 years, NC now has the 4th most physicians
per capita in the region and the 23rd most in the nation.
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While 13 counties
have no acute care hospital beds, operating room,
permanent-site MRI scanner or endoscopy room, the uneven
distribution of care facilities across NC’s 100 counties
does not necessarily translate to access problems. Medical
resource shortages are typically most acute in rural
areas. |
Southeast
Region |
National |
Global |
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Goal
1.3: Ensure
access to good health care |
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