New Study Says Arkansas Has Huge Doctor Shortage
By: Deedra Wilson, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 25, 2012
A new study shows there are not enough doctors in the state of Arkansas, which ranks in the bottom 2 percent for doctor-patient ratio in the country.
But two programs at UAMS have a 96 percent retention rate, and will hopefully bring that number up.
Coy Lock, a second-year medical student at UAMS scrubs for class and hopefully a career as a general surgeon.
"Hughes is the community I grew up in."
He is taking advantage of the rural practice program at UAMS.
He makes a commitment to practice in a small town for four years, in return, he gets $12,000 to help pay for school, and security for people in a place like Hughes, which has no family practice doctor.
"I think about my hometown and the people that I know there."
According to a new study by the Association of Medical Colleges, Arkansas ranks second from the bottom in the country for the number of doctors per patient
Rural Practice Program Administrator Tammy Henson says that doesn't surprise her.
"Every county in Arkansas is medically under-served."
Students like Coy recognize that and want to go home and serve his community.
"They have in many ways shaped who I am today."
Henson says she's hearing when the four year commitment is up, doctors are still staying.
"Oh yes, definitely."
For Coy Lock his hometown of Hughes may just be the place where he can start and maybe finish.
"I wanna go back and help there if at all possible, but if not then some community that's similar."
There is also the Community Match Rural Physicians Recruitment Program for those in their last two years of residency.
Those doctors receive 80,000 for staying in a community for four years.
But two programs at UAMS have a 96 percent retention rate, and will hopefully bring that number up.
Coy Lock, a second-year medical student at UAMS scrubs for class and hopefully a career as a general surgeon.
"Hughes is the community I grew up in."
He is taking advantage of the rural practice program at UAMS.
He makes a commitment to practice in a small town for four years, in return, he gets $12,000 to help pay for school, and security for people in a place like Hughes, which has no family practice doctor.
"I think about my hometown and the people that I know there."
According to a new study by the Association of Medical Colleges, Arkansas ranks second from the bottom in the country for the number of doctors per patient
Rural Practice Program Administrator Tammy Henson says that doesn't surprise her.
"Every county in Arkansas is medically under-served."
Students like Coy recognize that and want to go home and serve his community.
"They have in many ways shaped who I am today."
Henson says she's hearing when the four year commitment is up, doctors are still staying.
"Oh yes, definitely."
For Coy Lock his hometown of Hughes may just be the place where he can start and maybe finish.
"I wanna go back and help there if at all possible, but if not then some community that's similar."
There is also the Community Match Rural Physicians Recruitment Program for those in their last two years of residency.
Those doctors receive 80,000 for staying in a community for four years.
