ASU data: Arizona struggles to keep doctors in state

Data from Arizona State University shows that Arizona continues to struggle in keeping doctors in the state.

An article in the July 1 Arizona Republic states that the ratio of physicians to population in Arizona is "far below" the national average, according to a 2005 study on the physician workforce by Arizona State University's Center for Health Information.

That gap has closed a bit over the past five years, but not enough, said William Johnson, director of the center and professor of ASU's biomedical informatics department.

The estimated 2010 national ratio is about 299 physicians per 100,000 people but 213 state-licensed physicians per 100,000 for Arizona. In 2004, the ratio for Arizona was 207 per 100,000.

The article describes efforts Arizona is making to retain the doctors who are trained in the state.