RURAL AND URBAN NONPHYSICIAN PROVIDERS IN GEORGIA

Nonphysician providers make valuable contributions to health care in r ural areas. This study examines provider and practice characteristics, location preference, and reasons for location preference among Georgi a nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives, and physician a ssistants (PAs) (N=1,079). Data collected through a statewide survey r evealed that providers were concentrated in urban areas. Aural provide rs tended to be older less educated, possess fewer specialty credentia ls, and were employed longer than urban providers. NPs were significan tly more likely to prefer smaller communities, and PAs were significan tly move likely to prefer;larger communities. Providers who preferred smaller communities were likely to practice in rural and urban areas, but providers who preferred larger communities were substantially more likely to practice in urban areas. Providers who preferred smaller co mmunities were significantly more likely to mention the importance of community dynamics, while providers who preferred larger communities w ere significantly more likely to mention professional context.