Shortage of medical practitioners in rural Nebraska

Rural Nebraskans might recognize that medical professionals in their communities are dwindling compared to larger scale populations.

Doctor Josue Gutierrez says that the medical profession is a specialty career that takes a lot to accomplish.

“How can we take good care of those patients that need that great care, so that’s gonna stress an already stressed healthcare system. I think that medicine is a calling and that’s the way we should see it,” Primary Physician of Crete, Josue Gutierrez M.D. said. 

He thinks the decline in medical help is mainly geographical.

To maintain medical personnel in rural communities is a struggle, and he feels the effects of the decline.

“I am well aware of the decline just because I am grateful and happy and very fortunate and to have a good quality staff, but it’s also hard to recruit the new staff members that are quality members for this community,” Gutierrez M.D. said. 

Economics play a pivotal role in the process. Those in the medical field often establish their education in the cities and end up staying. 

“I think the urban areas tend to attract more talent, and at times leaves the rural areas hard pressed to get more doctors and practitioners and nurses to take care of their populations and communities,” Gutierrez M.D. said. 

He says there are benefits to working in both urban and rural areas, but it’s the community that keeps him in Crete.

“You have a wide variety of things you can see and always be excited about what’s next and there’s never a dull moment,” Gutierrez M.D. said. 

For the tight-knit small communities, there may be fewer healthcare practitioners, but it’s each and every personal relationship that matters in the end.

“You are able to look at that community and those patients and salvage that relationship and that in its–self can really help you,” Gutierrez M.D. said. 

He also mentioned that as the elderly population grows wider, the demand for special practitioners will follow… And that can be especially hard– hitting on the rural communities of Nebraska.