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The Idaho Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Idaho

Printer-friendly Idaho Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

  • There were nearly 43,800 workers employed in the health sector in Idaho in 2000, 7.8% of Idaho’s total workforce, lower than the national rate of 8.8%. Idaho ranked 45th among states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in Idaho grew 72% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 32% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 31% in health services sector employment, higher than the national growth rate of 21%.
  • The total population of Idaho is projected to grow 29% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 117% during the same period.
  • In 1999, Idaho had rates of death due to cancer and heart disease that were well below their respective national rates. Idaho was among the states with the lowest incidence of TB and reported AIDS cases in 2000.
  • In 2000, Idaho ranked 31st among states in hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

  • There were more than 1,800 active patient care physicians in Idaho in 2000. With 145 physicians per 100,000 population, Idaho fell below the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Idaho ranked 49th among states in physicians per capita.
  • Idaho had 53 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, lower than the rate of 69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
  • The number of physicians in Idaho grew 60% between 1989 and 2000, while the population grew only 31% over this period, leading to a net per capita growth of 22%, higher than the national per capita increase of 17%.
  • There were 235 physician assistants practicing in Idaho in 2000. This was equal to 18.1 physician assistants per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

  • There were more than 10,000 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Idaho in 2000; more than 8,200 were employed in nursing. There were 633.2 RNs per 100,000 population in Idaho in 2000, less than the national rate of 780.2
  • In 2000, Idaho ranked 28th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 225.4 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Idaho ranked 37th in LPNs employed in 2000 with 2,930 workers.
  • There were over 334 nurse practitioners in Idaho in 2000. This was equal to 25.7 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, well below the national rate of 33.7.
  • With 18 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Idaho had 1.4 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 2.9. Idaho ranked 41st among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • Idaho had 160 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, equal to 12.3 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 512 dentists, 1,110 dental hygienists, and 1,060 dental assistants practicing in Idaho in 2000. There were 39.4 dentists per 100,000 population in Idaho in 2000, below the national rate of 63.6. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists was above the national rate.
  • The number of dentists in Idaho declined by 4% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 25%. The result was a 24% decline in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 1,100 pharmacists and 1,180 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Idaho in 2000. Idaho had 84.6 pharmacists and 90.8 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 12th and 20th, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 58 psychiatrists, 420 psychologists and 870 social workers in Idaho in 2000. This is equal to 4.7 psychiatrists, 32.3 psychologists, and 66.9 social workers per 100,000 population. Idaho ranked 50th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 27th in psychologists per capita, and 50th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 2,600 home health aides and 5,640 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Idaho in 2000. Idaho had 200 home health aides and 433.9 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 16th and 33rd, respectively, among the 50 states.