‘We’re starting to see it play out’: New report shows primary care providers could decrease by 2037

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A new report from Commonwealth warned the country may lose nearly 30% of its rural primary care providers by 2037.

A shortage like that could hit states like Nebraska hard.

From long wait times to sometimes even longer drives, the pressure on rural healthcare isn’t slowing down.

“At the end of the day, we need as many trained physicians across the state, and we especially need them in rural Nebraska,” said Jed Hansen, executive director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association.

The report pointed to burnout, aging providers and financial strain on small hospitals and clinics as major drivers of the growing shortage.

Hansen said rural hospitals are doing everything they can, but they’re being stretched thin.

“In a time where we need extra expertise and need those extra hands in our nursing homes all the way into the surgical centers in Nebraska, we’re facing those shortages and we’re starting to see it play out.” He said.

Many rural Nebraskans depend on these clinics for a lot, from routine checkups to urgent needs to managing chronic conditions.

And for some families, losing a nearby provider could mean the difference between catching a health problem early or not catching it at all.

The report urged lawmakers to boost funding, training and retention programs to bring more young doctors into rural communities.

“It’s a challenge because we have such a long runway to train anyone, nursing 4 years, looking at advanced practice providers, a minimum of 6 years, physicians from undergrad through med school, and then through residency that could be 11, 12, 14, or 15 years,” Hansen said.

He mentioned this is no longer a future problem, it’s a right-now problem.

Despite the report, Hansen said he’s hopeful Nebraska could continue to lean on resources and Nebraskans can continue to lean on each other.

“While we do have those shortages, we’ve got an awful lot of good people out there,” he said. “There are a lot of entities that are working together and finding solutions to make sure that we do have the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists to take care of everyone in Nebraska.”