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The Colorado Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Colorado

Printer-friendly Colorado Highlights (PDF - 42 KB)

  • There were more than 149,000 workers employed in the health sector in Colorado in 2000, 6.8% of Colorado’s workforce, lower than the national rate of 8.8%. Colorado ranked 43rd among states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in Colorado grew 51% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 33% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 14% in health services sector employment, less than the national rate of growth (21%).
  • The total population of Colorado is projected to grow 16% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 113% during the same period.
  • In 1999, the rates of deaths due to heart disease and cancer in Colorado were significantly below national rates. The rate of deaths due to firearms was slightly higher than the national rate.
  • In 2000, Colorado ranked 42nd among states in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

  • There were nearly 8,600 active patient care physicians in Colorado in 2000. With 199 physicians per 100,000 population, Colorado was comparable to the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Colorado ranked 13th in the ratio of physicians per capita.
  • Colorado had 70 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, comparable to rate of 69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
  • Medical schools in Colorado graduated 125 new physicians in 2000, making Colorado 33rd among the 46 states with medical schools in number of graduates. On a per capita basis, Colorado graduated far fewer new physicians per 100,000 population (3.0) than did the entire United States (6.4), resulting in the state ranking 42nd among the 46 states with medical schools.
  • There were 867 physician assistants practicing in Colorado in 2000. This is equal to 20 physician assistants per 100,000 population, more than the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

  • There were over 40,000 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Colorado in 2000; more than 31,000 of these RNs were employed in nursing. This was equal to 732.5 RNs per 100,000 population, below the national rate of 780.2.
  • Colorado ranked 46th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs) with 137.7 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Colorado ranked 34th in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 5,960 workers.
  • Colorado had nearly 2,500 nurse practitioners in 2000. This was equal to 56.7 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, much higher than the national rate of 33.7. Colorado ranked 6th among states in nurse practitioners per capita.
  • With 175 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Colorado had 4.0 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 2.9. Colorado ranked 15th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 217 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Colorado had 5 per 100,000 population, one of the lowest ratios of nurse anesthetists per capita in the nation.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 3,029 dentists, 2,290 dental hygienists, and 4,880 dental assistants practicing in Colorado in 2000. This was equal to 70 dentists per 100,000 population, above the national rate of 63.6. Colorado ranked 11th in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratio of dental assistants was also relatively high.
  • The number of dentists in Colorado grew by 36% between 1991 and 2000 while the state’s population grew 28%. The result was a 6% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 3,130 pharmacists and 3,070 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Colorado in 2000. Colorado had 72.3 pharmacists and 71.0 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population, which ranked them 32nd and 41st, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 498 psychiatrists, 1,650 psychologists and 6,530 social workers in Colorado in 2000. This was equal to 12.5 psychiatrists, 38.1 psychologists, and 150.9 social workers per 100,000 population. Colorado ranked 13th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 18th among states in psychologists per capita, and 30th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 6,400 home health aides and 14,450 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Colorado in 2000. Colorado had 147.9 home health aides and 334 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 27th and 44th, respectively, among the 50 states.