The Montana Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

State Health Workforce Profiles Highlights Montana

Printer-friendly Montana Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

• There were more than 37,000 workers employed in the health services sector in Montana in 2000, 9.8% of Montana’s total workforce. Montana ranked 23rd among the states in per capita health services employment.
• Health services employment in Montana grew 37% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 13%, resulting in a net per capita growth of 22% in health services sector employment, comparable to the national rate of 21%.
• The total population of Montana is projected to grow 21% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 96% between 2000 and 2020.
• In 1999, Montana was below the national rates in the rate of deaths due to heart disease and cancer but was above the national rate in the rate of deaths due to firearms. There were low incidences of TB and reported AIDS cases in 2000-01.
• In 2000, Montana ranked 5th among states in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

• There were over 1,700 active patient care physicians in Montana in 2000. With 190 physicians per 100,000 population, Montana was lower than the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Montana ranked 24th among states in physicians per capital.
• Montana had 67 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, slightly lower than the rate of 69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
• The number of physicians in Montana grew 42% between 1989 and 2000, while the population grew only 13% over this period, leading to a net per capita growth of 26%, higher than the national per capita increase of 17%.
• There were 173 physician assistants practicing in Montana in 2000. This was equal to 19.1 physician assistants per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

• There were nearly 9,300 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Montana in 2000; over 7,300 were employed in nursing. There were 811 RNs per 100,000 population in Montana, higher than the national rate of 780.2.
• The number of RNs in Montana increased 28% between 1988 and 1996 while the state’s population only grew 11%. The result was a 16% growth in RNs per capita, compared to a 20% growth nationwide.
• In 2000, Montana ranked 20th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 260.1 LPNs per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Montana ranked 41st in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 2,350 workers.
• With 33 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Montana had 3.7 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 2.9. Montana ranked 18th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
• With 67 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Montana had 7.4 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

• There were 469 dentists, 690 dental hygienists, and 670 dental assistants practicing in Montana in 2000. There were 51.9 dentists per 100,000 population in Montana in 2000, lower than the national rate of 63.6. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists was higher than the national rate while the per capita rate of dental assistants was lower than the national rate.
• The number of dentists in Montana increased 6% between 1991 and 2000 while the state’s population grew 12%. The result was a 5% decline in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
• There were 760 pharmacists and 480 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Montana in 2000. Montana had 84.1 pharmacists and 53.1 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 13th and 49th, respectively, among the 50 states.
• There were 71 psychiatrists, 210 psychologists, and 1,570 social workers in Montana in 2000. This was equal to 8.1 psychiatrists, 23.2 psychologists, and 173.8 social workers per 100,000 population. Montana ranked 37th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 41st among states in psychologists per capita, and 21st among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

• There were 1,230 home health aides and 4,800 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Montana in 2000.