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National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
 

The West Virginia Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
West Virginia

Printer-friendly West Virginia Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

  • There were nearly 82,000 people employed in the health sector in West Virginia in 2000, 11.9% of West Virginia’s total workforce, compared to the national rate of 8.8%. West Virginia ranked 1st among states in percent of employment in health services.
  • Health services employment in West Virginia grew 41% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population declined by 1% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 43% in health services sector employment, higher than the national rate of growth (21%).
  • The total population of West Virginia is projected to grow 2% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 49% between 2000 and 2020.
  • In 1999, West Virginia had one of the highest rates of deaths due to heart disease and cancer in the country and was above the national rate of deaths due to firearms. The incidences of TB and reported AIDS cases were among the lowest in the country.
  • In 2000, West Virginia ranked 6th in the country in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

  • There were more than 3,300 active patient care physicians in West Virginia in 2000. With 184 physicians per 100,000 population, West Virginia was lower than the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. West Virginia ranked 29th among states in physicians per capita.
  • West Virginia had 77 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, higher than the national rate of 69.
  • Medical schools in West Virginia graduated 191 new physicians in 2000. West Virginia ranked 29th among the 46 states with medical schools in number of medical school graduates. On a per capita basis, West Virginia graduated 10.6 new physicians per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 6.4 and ranked 6th among the 46 states in medical school graduates per capita.
  • There were 360 physician assistants practicing in West Virginia in 2000. This is equal to 19.9 physician assistants per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 14.4. West Virginia ranked 9th in the nation in physician assistants per capita.

Nursing

  • There were more than 17,700 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in West Virginia in 2000; over 15,500 were employed in nursing. There were 858.9 RNs per 100,000 population in West Virginia in 2000, higher than the national rate of 780.2.
  • West Virginia ranked 7th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 363 LPNs per 100,000 population, much higher than the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. West Virginia ranked 32n d in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 6,560 workers.
  • There were 540 nurse practitioners in West Virginia in 2000. This was equal to 29.9 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, below the national rate of 33.7.
  • With 55 certified nurse midwives in 2000, West Virginia had 3.0 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, comparable to the national rate of 2.9. West Virginia ranked 21st among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 331 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, West Virginia had 18.3 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, almost double the national rate of 9.3. West Virginia had one of the highest ratios of nurse anesthetists per capita in the nation.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 735 dentists, 440 dental hygienists, and 690 dental assistants practicing in West Virginia in 2000. There were 40.7 dentists per 100,000 population in West Virginia in 2000, well below the national rate of 63.6. West Virginia ranked 44th in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists was also substantially lower than the national rate.
  • The number of dentists in West Virginia increased 2% between 1991 and 2000 while the state’s population grew 1%. The result was a 2% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 1,490 pharmacists and 1,940 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in West Virginia in 2000. West Virginia had 82.4 pharmacists and 107.3 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 18th and 8th, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 127 psychiatrists, 490 psychologists, and 3,850 social workers in West Virginia in 2000. This was equal to 7.0 psychiatrists, 27.1 psychologists, and 213 social workers per 100,000 population. West Virginia ranked 40th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 31st among states in psychologists per capita, and 9th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 4,620 home health aides and 9,000 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in West Virginia in 2000. West Virginia had 255.6 home health aides and 498 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 8th and 24th, respectively, among the 50 states.