New study reveals a shortage of physicians in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A new study reveals that Colorado Springs is experiencing a healthcare doctor drought.
When compared to the rest of the state or country, the Springs has fewer primary care doctors relative to its growing population.
According to the study from Pikes Peak United Way, per capita, Colorado Springs had approximately 61 primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents in 2019. That means there is one primary care physician for every 1,620 residents in Colorado Springs.
The data from the newly released study shows that that are 22 fewer physicians per 100,000 people than the Colorado state average.
A local non-profit that depends on volunteer work from physicians to provide free healthcare to low-income families says they are noticing this problem in real time.
“Back in the day those primary care physicians would reach out, they would want to reach out and they had it in their heart. Now, that has really just gone almost cold. They are not available. They don’t have the time to volunteer because they are so busy in their own practices," Director for Mission Medical said.
The study is new, but it turns out the problem is not. In 2014, the Colorado Health Institute identified El Paso County as a hot spot in need of more physicians.
Mission Medical said they fear that this low number of physicians will likely force more patients to put off their appointments and unfortunately end up in emergency rooms instead.
