The Arizona
Health Workforce: Highlights from the
Health Workforce Profile
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State
Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Arizona
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Arizona Highlights (PDF
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There were nearly 155,000 people employed
in the health sector in Arizona in 2000,
7.0% of Arizona’s total workforce,
lower than the national rate of 8.8%.
Arizona ranked 49th among states in
per capita health services employment.
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Health services employment in Arizona
grew 58% between 1988 and 2000, while
the state’s population grew by
46% during that period, resulting in
a net per capita growth of 8% in health
services sector employment, lower than
the national rate of growth (21%).
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The total population of Arizona is projected
to grow 18% between 2000 and 2020, and
the population 65 and over is projected
to grow 72%.
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In 1999, the rates of deaths due to
heart disease and cancer in Arizona
were well below their respective national
rates, while the rate of deaths due
to firearms was well above the national
rate.
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In 2000 Arizona ranked 45th among states
in the number of hospital beds per 100,000
population.
Highlights of the findings about the health
workforce in Arizona are presented below:
Medicine
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There were nearly 8,900 active patient
care physicians in Arizona in 1999-00.
With 172 physicians per 100,000 population,
Arizona fell below the national ratio
of 198 physicians per 100,000. Arizona
ranked 33rd among states in physicians
per capita.
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Arizona had 61 active primary care physicians
per 100,000 population in 2000, lower
than the rate of 69 per 100,000 for
the entire country.
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Medical schools in Arizona graduated
196 new physicians in 2000. Arizona
ranked 27th among the 46 states with
medical schools in number of medical
school graduates. On a per capita basis,
Arizona graduated far fewer new physicians
per 100,000 population (3.9) than did
the entire United States (6.4) and ranked
38th among the 46 states with medical
schools in medical
school graduates per capita.
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There were 696 physician assistants
practicing in Arizona in 2000. This
is equal to 13.5 physician assistants
per 100,000 population, slightly less
than the national rate of 14.4.
Nursing
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There were over 42,600 licensed registered
nurses (RNs) in Arizona in 2000; more
than 32,200 of these RNs were employed
in nursing. This was 623.6 RNs per 100,000
population, fewer than the national
rate of 780.2.
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Arizona ranked 41st among the states
in the per capita employment of Licensed
Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs) employed
in 2000, with 168.2 LPNs per 100,000
population as compared to the national
rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Arizona ranked
27th in the number of LPNs employed
in the state with 8,690 workers.
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There were more than 2,100 nurse practitioners
in Arizona in 2000. This was equal to
41.1 nurse practitioners per 100,000
population in 2000, higher than the
national rate of 33.7.
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With 258 certified nurse midwives in
2000, Arizona had 5.0 certified nurse
midwives per 100,000 population, higher
than the national rate of 2.9. Arizona
ranked 7th among states in certified
nurse midwives per capita.
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With 171 certified registered nurse
anesthetists in 2003, Arizona had 3.3
nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population,
compared to 9.3 nationally. Arizona
had one of the lowest ratios of nurse
anesthetists per capita among all the
states.
Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health
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There were 2,276 dentists, 2,960 dental
hygienists, and 4,470 dental assistants
practicing in Arizona in 2000. There
were 44 dentists per 100,000 population
in Arizona in 2000, well below the national
rate of 63.6. Arizona ranked 41st in
the nation in dentists per capita. The
per capita ratio of dental hygienists
was higher than the national rate while
dental assistants per capita rate was
slightly below the national rate.
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The number of dentists in Arizona grew
29% between 1991 and 2000 while the
state’s population grew 37%. The
result was a 6% decline in dentists
per capita compared to a 16% increase
nationwide.
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There were 2,130 pharmacists and 3,450
pharmacy technicians and aides practicing
in Arizona in 2000. Arizona had 41.2
pharmacists and 66.8 pharmacy technicians
and aides per 100,000 population in
2000, which ranked them 50th and 44th,
respectively, among the 50 states.
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There were 435 psychiatrists, 1,300
psychologists and 8,210 social workers
in Arizona in 2000.
With 9.3 psychiatrists, 25.2 psychologists,
and 158.9 social workers per 100,000
population in 2000, Arizona ranked 29th
among states in psychiatrists per capita,
35th among states in psychologists per
capita, and 27th among states in social
workers per capita.
Aides
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There were 9,820 home health aides and
15,030 nursing aides, orderlies, and
attendants working in Arizona in 2000.
This was equal to 190 home health aides
and 290.9 nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants per 100,000 population
in 2000, which ranked 19th and 46th,
respectively, among the 50 states.
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