Call for Action: County’s Physician Records Stuck in Pre-Pandemic Times

The coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted the healthcare landscape in Mohave County and across Arizona. Medical professionals now face uncertainty regarding the extent of these changes.

Melissa Palmer, the Mohave County Health Director, revealed this week that existing records on the county’s physician population have become outdated post-2020. To address this, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors has instructed county staff to prepare a comprehensive update within 45 days, reflecting the current number of doctors.

Considerable developments have reshaped the medical industry in the last four years. At the peak of the pandemic, U.S. hospitals reported severe staffing shortages, with bedspace reaching critical levels throughout 2020.

Burnout, high stress, and increased workloads contributed to the departure of over 200,000 healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurse practitioners, from the workforce in 2021, as reported by Massachusetts-based Definitive Healthcare.

In 2020, Mohave County had 22.98 family practitioners for every 100,000 residents, falling short of the state-recommended average of 30.04. Data revealed shortcomings across various specialties, such as cardiology and psychiatry, while exceeding in anesthesiology, urology, and radiology.

During the recent Community Health Needs Assessment in June, county health officials engaged with six medical facilities to identify specific local healthcare needs. “Lake Havasu City identified the necessity for a countywide coalition to tackle provider shortages in our communities,” stated Palmer.

An updated report on physician demographics is expected in October, potentially illuminating the challenges faced by medical facilities in Mohave County.