Minn. Small Towns Face Doctor Shortage

ADA, (AP) - The upcoming departure of the only doctor in the northwestern Minnesota town of Ada is highlighting the growing shortage of family care physicians, particularly in smaller communities.

Dr. Jeff Peterson has been the lone doctor living and working in the town of 1,700 people about 30 miles north of Fargo-Moorhead. The Forum reports Tuesday that Peterson is leaving Dec. 31 for a position in Fargo.

Some rural health centers have closed after too many doctors left small towns for jobs in bigger cities. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the country will be short 90,000 doctors over all fields in the next 10 years.

Ada's hospital administrator says Duluth-based Essentia Health remains committed to keeping a full-time doctor in Ada, and says he's confident about finding one.