Rural Areas of Calif. Facing Dire Shortage of Physicians

Many rural areas in California such as Mendocino County already face a physician shortage, and the problem is expected to grow worse over the coming years as more doctors retire. Some health officials are pursuing new initiatives to bolster the rural health care work force through telemedicine, education programs and a greater reliance on nurses and other health professionals. The California HealthCare Foundation's Center for Health Reporting contributed to this reporting. CHCF publishes California Healthline.

• "As Doctors Age, Small Towns Face Critical Shortage" (Freed, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/2).
• "Rural Areas Try To Lure Doctors To Avert Shortage" (Freed, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/3).