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National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
 

The South Carolina Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
South Carolina

Printer-friendly South Carolina Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

  • There were more than 140,700 people employed in the health sector in South Carolina in 2000, 7.7% of South Carolina‘s total workforce. South Carolina ranked 40th among the states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in South Carolina grew 81% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 18%, resulting in a net per capita growth of 53% in health services sector employment. This was more than twice the national rate of per capita growth in the health services sector of 21%.
  • The total population of South Carolina is projected to grow 12% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 69% between 2000 and 2020.
  • In 1999, South Carolina was above the national rates of deaths due to cancer, heart disease, and firearms.
  • In 2000, South Carolina was slightly below the national rate in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

  • There were more than 6,900 active patient care physicians in South Carolina in 2000. With 172 physicians per 100,000 population, South Carolina was below the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. South Carolina ranked 32nd among states in physicians per capita.
  • South Carolina had 56 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, lower than the rate of 69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
  • Medical schools in South Carolina graduated 206 new physicians in 2000. South Carolina ranked 26th among the 46 states with medical schools in number of medical school graduates. On a per capita basis, South Carolina graduated less new physicians per 100,000 population (5.2) than did the entire United States (6.4) and ranked 28th among the 46 states in medical school graduates per
    capita.
  • There were 260 physician assistants practicing in South Carolina in 2000. This was equal to 6.5 physician assistants per 100,000 population, less than half the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

  • There were more than 32,500 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in South Carolina in 2000; over 29,200 were employed in nursing. There were 726.3 RNs per 100,000 population in South Carolina in 2000, less than the national rate of 780.2.
  • South Carolina ranked 26th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 233.1 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. South Carolina ranked 25th in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 9,380 workers.
  • South Carolina had 1,223 nurse practitioners in 2000. This was equal to 30.4 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, slightly below the national rate of 33.7.
  • With 129 certified nurse midwives in 2000, South Carolina had 3.2 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 2.9. South Carolina ranked 20th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 625 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, South Carolina had 15.5 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 2,328 dentists, 1,410 dental hygienists, and 2,970 dental assistants practicing in South Carolina in 2000. There were 57.9 dentists per 100,000 population in South Carolina in 2000, below the national rate of 63.6. South Carolina ranked 25th in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists was substantially lower then the national rate.
  • The number of dentists in South Carolina increased by 71% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 13%. The result was a 52% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 2,720 pharmacists and 3,770 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in South Carolina in 2000. South Carolina had 67.6 pharmacists and 93.7 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 42nd and 16th, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 405 psychiatrists, 770 psychologists, and 5,310 social workers in South Carolina in 2000. This was equal to 10.5 psychiatrists, 19.1 psychologists, and 132 social workers per 100,000 population. South Carolina ranked 22nd among states in psychiatrists per capita, 45th among states in psychologists per capita, and 35th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 4,000 home health aides and 14,710 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in South Carolina in 2000. South Carolina had 99.4 home health aides and 365.6 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 45th and 40th, respectively, among the 50 states.