AMA: new mapping tool IDs areas in need of physicians

(HealthDay)—A new interactive mapping tool can help physicians and their staff determine locations to establish or expand their practice, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

The AMA Health Workforce Mapper provides a map view of layered geographic information, health data, and practice locations of physicians and other health care providers. The map shows areas of greatest need, based on the ratio of patients to health care professionals. Non-AMA members can access a reduced view of the tool which does not include physician data.

The tool can be used to identify areas for practice establishment or expansion; create and display ratios of physicians to population; map the practice locations of physicians and other health care providers; compare across multiple physician specialty types; identify areas of shortages; and view geographic features.

"The tool helps AMA members make wise practice decisions and meet pressing patient access needs by giving a map view of layered geographic information, health data, and practice locations of physicians and other health care providers—down to medical specialty and practice type," according to the report.