It has always been difficult to attract general physicians to rural areas. Small-town doctors do not have the opportunity to take much time off, and the salary is relatively low. However, the quality...

It has always been difficult to attract general physicians to rural areas. Small-town doctors do not have the opportunity to take much time off, and the salary is relatively low. However, the quality of life is often appealing. Past records indicate that 52% of all physicians in rural areas leave after one year. The federal government has decided to offer more incentives for doctors to stay in rural areas, for example, loan forgiveness and housing allowances. A few years after this program was implemented, a random sample of rural-area physician positions showed 62 of 130 left after one year.