The Kentucky
Health Workforce: Highlights from the
Health Workforce Profile
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State
Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Kentucky
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Kentucky Highlights
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There were more than 165,000 people
employed in the health sector in Kentucky
in 2000, 9.4% of Kentucky’s total
workforce, slightly above to the national
rate of 8.8%. Kentucky ranked 25th among
states in per capita health services
employment.
- Health
services employment in Kentucky grew
42% between 1988 and 2000, while the
state’s population grew by 10%
during that period, resulting in a net
per capita growth of 29% in health services
sector employment, higher than the national
growth rate of 21%.
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The population of Kentucky is projected
to grow 6% between 2000 and 2020, while
the population 65 and over is projected
to grow 58% between 2000 and 2020.
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In 1999, Kentucky was among the states
with the highest rates of death due
to cancer and heart disease. The rate
of deaths due to firearms was also above
the national rate. Reported AIDS cases
were approximately half the national
rate.
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In 2000, Kentucky was above the national
rate in the number of hospital beds
per 100,000 population.
Highlights of the findings about the health
workforce in Kentucky are presented below.
Medicine
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There were nearly 6,900 active patient
care physicians in Kentucky in 2000.
With 170 physicians per 100,000 population,
Kentucky was lower than the national
ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000.
Kentucky ranked 35th among states in
physicians per capita.
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Kentucky had 60 active primary care
physicians per 100,000 population in
2000, lower than the rate of 69 per
100,000 for the entire country.
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Medical schools in Kentucky graduated
225 new physicians in 1999-00. Kentucky
ranked 23rd among the 46 states with
medical schools in number of medical
school graduates. On a per capita basis,
Kentucky graduated fewer new physicians
per 100,000 population (5.6) than did
the entire United States (6.4) and ranked
26th among the 46 states with medical
schools in medical school graduates
per capita.
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There were 581 physician assistants
practicing in Kentucky in 2000. This
is equal to 14.3 physician assistants
per 100,000 population, comparable to
the national rate of 14.4.
Nursing
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There were nearly 39,500 licensed registered
nurses (RNs) in Kentucky in 2000; more
than 33,650 were employed in nursing.
There were 831.2 RNs per 100,000 population
in Kentucky in 2000, more than the national
rate of 780.2.
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Kentucky ranked 16th among the states
in the per capita employment of Licensed
Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs),
with 279.6 LPNs per 100,000 population
as compared to the national rate of
240.8 per 100,000. Kentucky ranked 23rd
in the number of LPNs employed in 2000
with 11,320 workers.
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There were more than 1,000 nurse practitioners
in Kentucky in 2000. This was equal
to 25.6 nurse practitioners per 100,000
population, lower than the national
rate of 33.7.
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With 100 certified nurse midwives in
2000, Kentucky had 2.5 certified nurse
midwives per 100,000 population, less
than the national rate of 2.9. Kentucky
ranked 25th among states in certified
nurse midwives per capita.
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With 449 certified registered nurse
anesthetists in 2003, Kentucky had 11.1
nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population,
higher than the national rate of 9.3.
Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health
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There were 2,204 dentists, 980 dental
hygienists, and 3,630 dental assistants
practicing in Kentucky in 2000. There
were 54.4 dentists per 100,000 population
in Kentucky in 2000, below the national
rate of 63.6. The per capita ratio of
dental hygienists was below the national
rate and the per capita ratio of dental
assistants was slightly higher than
the national rate.
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The number of dentists in Kentucky increased
22% between 1991 and 2000 while the
state’s population grew 9%. The
result was a 12% increase in dentists
per capita compared to a 16% increase
nationwide.
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There were 3,780 pharmacists and 4,090
pharmacy technicians and aides practicing
in Kentucky in 2000. Kentucky had 93.4
pharmacists and 101 pharmacy technicians
and aides per 100,000 population in
2000, which ranked 3rd and 10th, respectively
among the 50 states.
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There were 340 psychiatrists, 1,060
psychologists and 9,450 social workers
in Kentucky in 2000. This was equal
to 8.6 psychiatrists, 26.2 psychologists,
and 233.4 social workers per 100,000.
Kentucky ranked 27th among states in
psychiatrists per capita, 33rd among
states in psychologists per capita,
and 8th among states in social workers
per capita.
Aides
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There were 5,050 home health aides and
20,900 nursing aides, orderlies, and
attendants working in Kentucky in 2000.
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