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National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
 

The Delaware Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Delaware

Printer-friendly Delaware Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

Background

  • There were nearly 31,000 workers employed in the health sector in Delaware in 2000, 7.6% of Delaware’s total workforce, compared to the national rate of 8.8%. Delaware ranked 32nd among states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in Delaware grew 46% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 21% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 20% in health services sector employment, comparable to the national rate of growth (21%).
  • The total population of Delaware is projected to grow 8% between 2000 and 2020. The population 65 and over is projected to grow 40% during the same period.
  • In 1999, Delaware ranked among the highest in the country in the rate of deaths due to cancer. The rate of deaths due to heart disease was also above the national rate and the rate of deaths due to firearms (8.9) was below the national rate (10.6). Delaware also ranked high in the nation in reported AIDS cases.
  • In 2000, Delaware had fewer hospital beds per 100,000 population than the national rate.

Highlights of the findings about the health workforce in Delaware are presented below.

Medicine

  • There were more than 1,500 active patient care physicians in Delaware in 2000. With 202 physicians per 100,000 population, Delaware was comparable to the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Delaware ranked 12th among states in physicians per capita.
  • Delaware had 69 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, equal to the ratio for the entire country.
  • The number of physicians in Delaware grew 43% between 1989 and 2000, while the population grew only 19% over this period, leading to a net per capita growth of 20%, slightly higher than the national per capita increase of 17%.
  • There were 157 physician assistants practicing in Delaware in 2000. This was equal to 20.0 physician assistants per 100,000 population, above the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

  • There were over 8,600 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Delaware in 2000; more than 7,300 were employed in nursing. There were 932.9 RNs per 100,000 population in Delaware in 2000, significantly more than the national rate of 780.2.
  • In 2000, Delaware ranked 30th in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 220 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Delaware ranked 47th in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 1,730 workers.
  • There were 357 nurse practitioners in Delaware in 2000. This was equal to 45.4 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 33.7.
  • With 18 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Delaware had 2.2 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, less than the national rate of 2.9. Delaware ranked 28th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 104 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Delaware had 13.2 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 299 dentists, 470 dental hygienists, and 760 dental assistants practicing in Delaware in 2000. There were 38 dentists per 100,000 population in Delaware in 2000, well below the national rate of 63.6. The per capita ratios of dental hygienists and dental assistants were above their respective national per capita ratios.
  • The number of dentists in Delaware grew 5% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 16%. The result was a 9% decline in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 470 pharmacists and 660 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Delaware in 2000. Delaware had 59.8 pharmacists and 89.8 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population, which ranked them 48th and 22nd, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 83 psychiatrists, 390 psychologists and 1,560 social workers in Delaware in 2000. This was equal to 11.2 psychiatrists, 49.6 psychologists, and 198.3 social workers per 100,000 population in 2000. Delaware ranked 17th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 8th in psychologists per capita, and 14th in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 1,060 home health aides and 3,600 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Delaware in 2000.