A model to evaluate whether a community can support a physician.

A major concern to the rural citizens of the United States is the availability of health care in their community. Community leaders and physicians considering locating in rural communities need a method by which they can evaluate a community's potential for supporting a physician. A detailed survey was conducted in 1986 of 25 physicians' practices in rural Oklahoma. Data were collected from the physicians on their number of patient visits and practice costs in 1985. Using this information, the authors designed a model to project the economic feasibility of establishing a physician practice in a specific community. This model can be used to project the number of physician visits a community can generate, the costs to establish and maintain a clinic, and the gross and net income of the practice.