Patient to Primary Care Physician

What does this measure?

This indicator measures the Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio within New York State and selected counties, which represents the number of residents for every one primary care physician. It serves as a measure of the accessibility of primary healthcare within a given area. A lower ratio indicates better access to care, while a higher ratio suggests that physicians may have a larger patient load, potentially leading to longer wait times or reduced access to appointments.

Chart displaying the amount of patients per 1 primary care physician in the Hudson Valley in 2024.

Chart comparing the patient to primary care physician ratio of Orange County to the rest of the Hudson Valley counties over the years.

Summary Statement

The data shows a consistent pattern of disparities in access to primary care across the listed counties. Rockland County consistently has the lowest patient-to-physician ratio, indicating the best access to care, with its ratio holding below 1,200 to 1 since 2014. Conversely, Sullivan County consistently has the highest ratio, with its ratio being more than double that of Rockland's, suggesting significant challenges in accessing primary care. While most counties show some year-to-year fluctuations, a clear trend of a higher ratio in rural areas like Sullivan and a lower ratio in more suburban areas like Rockland and Dutchess is evident.

Source

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/orange-county-ny?provider-clinician_patient_ratio=provider1