Physicians Strengthen Oregon’s Economy
Oregon’s office-based physicians ensure the health and well-being of their communities. The January 2011 State-Level Economic Impact of Office-Based Physicians Report, an AMA study conducted by the Lewin Group, proves that they also strengthen Oregon’s economy by creating jobs, purchasing goods and services, supporting wages and benefits, and generating state and local tax revenue. The complete report is available here.
Highlights of the report include:
- Office-based physicians support more than 50,000 jobs in Oregon.
- Office-based physicians contribute $12 billion in economic output or sales revenue, representing 7.2 percent of the total GDP in Oregon.
- Office-based physicians in Oregon generate more than $9 billion in wages and benefits.
- Office-based physicians generate $589 million in state and local tax revenue in Oregon.
In 2010, the OMA partnered with the Oregon Healthcare Workforce Institute, the Oregon Area Health Education Center and the Oregon Employment Department on a project sponsored by the Oregon Medical Education Foundation, Oregon Health & Science University and the Oregon Area Health Education Center to estimate the economic impact that a single physician has on a local county’s economy in Oregon. This study was released in September 2010 and is available here. It included all active practicing physicians. Both studies point out that physician practices contribute to local economies across Oregon in the creation of jobs as well as the provision of care.
Oregonians benefit directly when the state creates a positive practice environment for physicians. Attracting and keeping physicians in the state gives Oregonians better access to health care and strengthens the state economy.