National Center for Health Workforce Analysis

The Alaska Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Alaska

There were more than 19,000 people employed in the health sector in Alaska in 2000, nearly 7% of Alaska’s total workforce. This was lower than the national rate of 8.8%. Alaska ranked 48th among states in per capita health services employment.
Health services employment in Alaska grew 74% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 16% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 50% in health services sector employment, more than double than the national rate of growth (21%).
The total population of Alaska is projected to grow 33% between 2000 and 2020. The population 65 and over is projected to grow 120% between 2000 and 2020.
In 1999, Alaska had one of the lowest rates of deaths in the nation due to heart disease and a relatively low rate of deaths due to cancer but had one of the highest death rates due to firearms in the country.
In 2000, Alaska ranked 41st in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

Highlights of the findings about the health workforce in Alaska are presented below:

Medicine

There were more than 1,000 active patient care physicians in Alaska in 2000. With 166 physicians per 100,000 population, Alaska fell well below the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Alaska ranked 40th among states in physicians per capita.
Alaska had 71 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, slightly higher than the rate of 69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
The number of physicians in Alaska grew 49% between 1989 and 2000, while the population grew 15% over this period, leading to a net per capita growth of 30%, compared to the national per capita increase of 17%.
There were 95 physician assistants practicing in Alaska in 2000. This was equal to 15.1 physician assistants per 100,000 population, slightly higher than the national rate of 14.4. Alaska ranked 22nd in the nation in physician assistants per capita.

Nursing

There were nearly 5,900 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in 1996; more than 4,900 RNs were employed in nursing. There were 782.9 RNs per 100,000 population in 2000, close to the national rate of 780.2.
Alaska ranked last among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 66.9 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Alaska also ranked last in the number of LPNs employed in the state in 2000 with 420 workers.
There were 420 nurse practitioners in Alaska in 2000. This was equal to 66.9 per 100,000 population, giving Alaska one of the highest ratio of nurse practitioners per capita in the nation.
With 47 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Alaska had 7.5 certified nurse midwives 100,000 population, well above the national rate of 2.9. Alaska ranked 2nd in the nation the number of certified nurse midwives per capita.
Alaska had 49 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2000, equal to 7.8 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, compared to 9.3 nationally.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

There were 792 dentists, 470 dental hygienists, and 590 dental assistants practicing in Alaska in 2000. There were 126.2 dentists per 100,000 population in Alaska in 2000, almost double the national rate of 63.6. Alaska ranked 1st in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratios of dental hygienists and dental assistants were also higher then their respective national rates.
The number of dentists in Alaska grew 168% between 1991 and 2000 while the state’s population grew 10%. The result was a 143% growth in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
There were 320 pharmacists and 320 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Alaska in 2000. Alaska had 51 pharmacists and 51 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 49th and 50th, respectively, among the 50 states.
There were 51 psychiatrists, 230 psychologists and 1,520 social workers in Alaska in 2000. With 8.3 psychiatrists, 36.6 psychologists, and 242.2 social workers per 100,000 population in 2000, Alaska ranked 36th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 21st among states in psychologists per capita and 5th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

There were 630 home health aides and 1,370 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Alaska in 2000. Alaska had 100.4 home health aides and 218.3 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 44th and 50th, respectively, among the 50 states.