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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022
| Contributor Information
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
What does it take to be a best place to practice medicine? Economics and medical resources are certainly important, but so are a lot of other factors, including quality of life, work-life balance, and the overall medical environment. In compiling this year's Best Places to Practice list, we ranked the states and the District of Columbia according to 12 metrics to identify locales where doctors can thrive.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Idaho gets high marks when it comes to livability and compensation. Malpractice payouts are low, as are adverse actions against doctors. What's more, the state is in desperate need of physicians: Idaho has led the country in population growth for 5 straight years, according to US Census estimates, but has the lowest physician density in the nation. That probably accounts for a high rate of physician burnout in the state. If you're looking for a growing market, Boise is at the heart of the action.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Although many physicians in Georgia have experienced increases in liability premiums in the past several years, doctors here enjoy a low rate of burnout, low cost of living, and a low rate of adverse malpractice actions. With almost 3 in 10 physicians responding to the Medicus Firm's provider practice and relocation survey saying they'd like to live in the Southeast, and nearly a third wanting to live and work in the suburb of a major metro area, the sprawling Atlanta metro area checks all the boxes.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
South Dakota offers excellent compensation and a low tax burden. The state ranked third lowest in malpractice payouts per capita last year and physician density is low, so there's plenty of opportunity. Healthcare institutions are some of the biggest employers in Sioux Falls, which made Livability's list of the top 20 cities to live in last year.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
There's plenty of opportunity in Texas. Despite having an enviable medical resident retention rate, the state has one of the lowest rates of physicians per capita. Compensation is above the national average while the cost of living is below it. To top things off, malpractice payouts in Texas were among the lowest in the nation in 2021. Dallas is a top-paying market for physicians and is home to nationally ranked hospitals like UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
When it comes to economics, it's hard to ignore Indiana, where doctors earn top quintile salaries and the overall cost of living and tax burden are low. The state has a low rate of adverse actions against doctors. The town of Carmel, with easy access to Indianapolis, is a perennial favorite on "best places" lists.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
North Dakota ranks among the 15 most livable states, and doctors see the appeal. Beautiful parks and scenery are among the big draws. The state has a low rate of malpractice payouts, above-average physician compensation, and a high medical resident retention rate. Sanford Health and Essentia Health are major employers in Fargo, which offers affordable housing.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Nebraska ranked first for physician happiness outside of work and second for happiness on the job. That may be because Nebraska is one of the most livable states in the nation, or it could be because doctors in the state enjoy top-quintile compensation and little competition. Famous for being the home of the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, Omaha is also home to two major research hospitals: Nebraska Medicine/Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University Medical Center.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Doctors in Oklahoma are well compensated, and the tax burden and cost of living are low. That may explain why residents who train in the state often stay put. Although doctors in Oklahoma have to work hard to meet the needs of the population — physician density is in the lowest quintile — burnout is below the national average.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
For quality of life and economics, it's tough to beat Utah, where doctors earn above-average compensation and the cost of living is below the national average. Still, many physicians who practice in Utah report a high rate of burnout. Utah has one of the lowest levels of physician density in the nation. The University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, which Forbes ranks as one of the best employers in the state, serves as a regional referral center for Utah and surrounding states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Florida ranks among the top 10 states for livability, which may explain its high rate of resident retention. Compensation and cost of living are middling, but individuals don't pay a state income tax, so the overall tax burden is low. Orlando is a top-paying market for physicians, and the city's healthcare system is growing, thanks in part to Lake Nona Medical City, a health and life sciences locale that includes a Nemours Children's Hospital and a VA hospital.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
North Carolina physicians are more likely to be happy in their work lives and less likely to suffer from burnout than doctors overall. Many say North Carolina has both sophistication and small-town charm. Compensation tracks the national average, but the state has a lower cost of living and overall tax burden. Because adverse actions against doctors are infrequent, malpractice payouts last year were low. Charlotte was the top-paying city for physicians in 2021.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Doctors seeking a wide-open space need look no further than Big Sky Country. Only Nevada and Idaho have lower physician density. Montana is planning two new medical schools to help address the physician shortage, but there's ample opportunity for newcomers. Outdoor lovers will swoon over Missoula, which is home to the only Level II trauma center in western Montana.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
The Magnolia State isn't known for its healthcare system, but Mississippi, with its low concentration of physicians, offers ample opportunity for doctors who want to turn that around. Physicians in the state are among the happiest in the nation — both inside and outside of work. They report the second lowest rate of burnout and earn high compensation. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the nation.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
With a low cost of living, an overall tax burden of just 5.74% (the second lowest in the nation), and above-average compensation, Tennessee makes a compelling economic case for itself. Malpractice payouts were low last year, and physician density is in the second quintile. Franklin earns high marks for its small-town charm and big-city opportunities.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Arkansas offers top-quintile compensation and a low cost of living. Although the state has a low healthcare ranking, a consortium of four regional health systems, along with the University of Arkansas and the HealthTech Arkansas business accelerator, recently banded together to form the Northwest Arkansas Biodesign Sprints program to identify healthcare challenges and promote solutions. Fayetteville earns high marks for its growing job market.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
As home to the Mayo Clinic, it's no surprise that physician density in Minnesota is fairly high. Compensation and cost of living in Minnesota are middling and the tax burden is high. But when it comes to quality of life, Minnesota has much to offer. The state has been ranked as the second most livable (behind Washington), and the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen topped Money magazine's list as the best place in the nation to live in 2021-2022.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Alabama offers generous physician compensation and a low cost of living, and doctors there have more than economics working in their favor. Alabama doctors are happier both inside and outside the workplace and report lower levels of burnout than those throughout the country. However, Alabama residents have poor access to care. Only 10 states have lower physician density.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
If you've never considered Wyoming, you might want to rethink. Wyoming ranks second in physician compensation and has the third lowest tax burden. Malpractice payouts per capita are low. Only three states have lower physician density — so doctors are definitely welcome. Wyoming Medical Center in Casper is the biggest hospital in the state and the city's second largest employer.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
When it comes to practicing medicine, Wisconsin earns rock-solid marks across the board. Livability? Check. Healthcare access and quality? Check. Compensation, cost of living, happiness at work? Check, check, check. Madison, the state capital, is a staple on best places to live lists.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Virginia is for lovers — and for doctors. The state ranks in the top quintile for livability and nearly as high for healthcare. Doctors there report higher than average levels of happiness on the job and at home and lower levels of burnout and depression. The cost of living is not low in Virginia, but the state is desirable overall.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Everybody wants to live in Hawaii, but for doctors the islands have a particular appeal. Hawaii ranks number one in access to healthcare and healthcare quality, and doctors like to work and play there. As a result, the share of physicians who say they are burned out or depressed is far lower than the national average. But paradise comes at a cost: Hawaii has the highest cost of living and the second highest tax burden behind New York, and Honolulu real estate is very pricy.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Missouri offers favorable economics: below-average taxes, low cost of living, and compensation above the national average. Likewise, doctors in the state report a comfortable work-life balance — most say they're happy at work and at home, and they have a lower than average burnout rate. On the downside, Missouri saw a spike in liability premiums in 2021, according to an American Medical Association analysis. St. Louis, home to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a top-ranked research hospital, is known to pay well.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Colorado ranks among the top 10 states for healthcare quality and public health and scores in the top quintile for livability. Although it ranks well in resident retention, overall physician density is low. Physician compensation is below the national average. Doctors with a passion for the outdoors will find much to love in Colorado Springs.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Although Alaska ranks near the top in terms of healthcare quality, given its size and remote communities, access to care is a big problem and the cost of living is high. Alaska has one of the lowest physician burnout rates and the lowest overall tax burden, and Anchorage is the state's biggest metro area. Still, the long nights and cold winters in Anchorage may be daunting to many.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Physician happiness — both on and off the job — is above the national average, while reported burnout and depression are lower than the national average. The economics of Arizona are middling: Compensation is slightly above the national average, and the cost of living is lower than average.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
When it comes to selecting a practice location, "best" and "worst" are largely subjective terms: no matter what metrics are used, location is ultimately a matter of personal preference. All the states that fell into this year's "worst" category offered compensation well below the national average and had high rates of malpractice payouts. Three had cost of living and tax burdens in the top quintile.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
The economic landscape in Maine works against doctors. The overall tax burden and physician compensation are in the lowest quintile and malpractice payouts last year were high. Maine earns middling marks for livability and healthcare. Maine Medical Center in Portland is in the midst of a $588 million replacement and modernization project.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Maryland is a beautiful state that ranks in the top quintile for access to care and healthcare quality, but it can be an economically challenging place to practice medicine. There's abundant competition and malpractice payouts; taxes and the cost of living are high. Money magazine ranks Ellicott City outside of Baltimore as one of the most livable places in the nation.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Picturesque as it may be, West Virginia presents numerous challenges for doctors. The state ranks in the bottom two quintiles for most measures, including compensation, tax burden, malpractice payouts, adverse actions against doctors, competition, and resident retention. West Virginia ranks last in public health and had the second highest level of medical liability premium increases in 2021, according to the American Medical Association. Morgantown, a college town on the banks of the Monongahela River, is frequently recognized as a great place to live.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Rhode Island ranks in the bottom quintile for compensation, cost of living, and overall tax burden. The medical environment is likewise challenging, with high malpractice payouts, stiff competition, and a low rate of resident retention.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2022
Shelly Reese | May 20, 2022 | Contributor Information
Washington, DC, has some of the nation's highest income tax rates — rates people can avoid if they live in Maryland or Virginia. The cost of living in the district is far higher than the national average and physician compensation ranks dead last. On the upside, the DC Board of Medicine is working to establish reciprocity with Maryland and Virginia, which would make it easier for physicians to practice regionally. Adams Morgan is one of the oldest and most walkable neighborhoods in the capital.
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Contributor Information
Shelly Reese
Freelance writer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Disclosure: Shelly Reese has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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Data Sources and Criteria
Overall rank was based on combining criteria from the following sources, accessed February 18-March 22, 2022.
Economics
Compensation: Data provided by Medscape based on annual compensation surveys.
Cost of living: Adjustments were made on the basis of the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) 2021 Cost of Living Data Series.
Tax burden: Total state tax burden includes property taxes, individual income tax, and sales and excise taxes. Information compiled from WalletHub.
Practice Environment
Malpractice payouts per capita: Estimated malpractice payouts for physicians per state resident. Payout data from Harnam Singh, PhD, National Practitioner Data Bank: Adverse Action and Medical Malpractice Reports (1990-2021). State resident population estimates are from US Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021.
Adverse actions against physicians: Adverse actions against physicians in 2021 (excluding reinstatement and restorations) were calculated by state on the basis of Harnam Singh, PhD, National Practitioner Data Bank: Adverse Action and Medical Malpractice Reports (1990-2021). Compared with the number of active allopathic physicians (MDs) and osteopathic physicians (DOs) as of January 2022 according to Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts.
Professionally active physicians: As of January 2022 (per state resident) according to Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts. State resident population estimates from the US Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021.
Livability: U.S. News & World ReportBest States Rankings include 70 metrics based on healthcare, education, the economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and the natural environment.
Additional Sources:
Suggested cities were identified according to ratings and recommendations from Money.com, Livability.com, Niche.com, USNews.com, Sperling's BestPlaces.net, Forbes.com, Greatschools.org, and Doximity.com.
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