Iowa City 2nd in Nation for Doctor Density

B.A. Morelli Iowa City Press-Citizen

With 1,915 physicians, or 1,305 per 100,000 people, the Iowa City metropolitan statistical area has the second-most physicians per capita in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 edition of the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, which was released Thursday.

Measured by physicians per capita, four of the top five metropolitan statistical areas play home to a university medical center, according to the data book. Iowa City hosts University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, as well as Mercy Iowa City.

"I would imagine it has something to do with having a lot of university medical centers in those towns," said Robert Bernstein, a public affairs specialist with the bureau.

The head of the UI Physicians group, Craig Syrop was in clinic Thursday and could not be reached for comment. A call and e-mail message left with Mercy officials was not returned.

Information for the data book comes from American Medical Association 2007 figures.

Rochester, Minn., which is home to the Mayo Clinic, tops the list with 3,374 physicians, or 1,871 per 100,000 people.

Ann Arbor, Mich., home to the University of Michigan, is No. 3 with 1,115 physicians per 100,000, followed by Charlottesville, Va., home to the University of Virginia, with 1,110 per 100,000, and Durham, N.C., home to Duke University, rounds out the top five with 1,109 physicians per 100,000.

"These communities seem to be places to go for those seeking medical treatment beyond just the routine," Bernstein said.

As a point of reference, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan statistical area has 1,169 physicians or 214 per 100,000.