Most health professions are increasing faster than the state population, research indicates.
The North Carolina Health Professions 1998 Data Book, compiled by Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research staff, shows the state s population grew by 1.6 percent between 1997 and 1998. During the same period, however, the number of doctors increased by 5.4 percent, chiropractors by 6.2 percent and registered nurses by 3.4 percent. The number of dentists climbed by 2 percent, nurse practitioners by 19.2 percent, physician assistants by 12.3 percent and physical therapists by 5.8 percent. Almost all other health professions grew as well. For example, the supply of primary-care physicians and nurse practitioners grew at the highest rate in large, remote rural towns, and the greatest rate of increase in physician assistants was in remote rural counties.