Health

Crisis: Rural Doctor Shortage Forces Small Town to Offer Major Incentives

Crisis: Rural Doctor Shortage Forces Small Town to Offer Major Incentives
Rural Healthcare Crisis
Physician Recruitment
Florida Doctor Shortage

Rural doctor shortages are pushing towns like Havana, Florida, to offer unprecedented recruitment incentives. After the retirement of longtime physician Dr. Mark Newberry, this 1,750-person community now subsidizes office space, x-ray machines, and ultrasound equipment to attract a primary care doctor.

Havana leaders launched a statewide campaign highlighting its quaint Main Street, tight-knit neighborhoods, and financial support packages. 'Everything you imagine a Hallmark movie to be is where we live,' said Town Manager Kendrah Wilkerson.

'This is as vital as parks or infrastructure – our residents deserve local care.'

Florida faces a dire gap of 18,000 physicians by 2035, with rural areas hit hardest. Key challenges include:

  • 30-minute commutes for elderly/low-income patients to nearest cities
  • High startup costs for independent practices
  • Limited med school graduates pursuing primary care roles

Only one applicant – Havana native Dr. Camron Browning – has committed so far. The town council unanimously approved negotiations with the soon-to-graduate resident, who stated:

'My goal was always to serve my hometown.'

Recruitment expert Matthew Smeltzer notes younger doctors prioritize work-life balance over urban salaries. 'Small towns can offer deeper patient connections,' he said. Havana’s $15,000 annual subsidies mirror strategies that initially drew Dr. Newberry in 1993.

Mayor Eddie Bass emphasized:

'We need a true physician who can handle it all.'
With 26% of Florida counties lacking adequate primary care, Havana’s gamble could set a precedent for rural physician recruitment nationwide.