Key Stats, Challenges, and Solutions for the Year Ahead



In 2025, Arizona’s healthcare system is facing some big problems. There aren’t enough doctors, nurses, or other health workers to help everyone who needs care. This makes it harder for people to see a doctor, especially in small towns and rural areas.

In some places, there aren’t any doctors at all. For example, there are areas where over 5,000 people share just one doctor—or none at all. Nurses, dentists, and mental health professionals are also in short supply.

Quick Facts: Arizona Healthcare by the Numbers in 2025

• 4,679 Nurses Needed: That’s like needing enough nurses to fill 77 school buses! Without them, hospitals and clinics can’t keep up with patients.

• 4,131 Doctors Needed: This includes family doctors and specialists. Many small towns don’t have enough doctors, which means longer drives and wait times for care.

• Only 8.5% of Mental Health Needs Are Met: Arizona is falling short in mental health care. This makes it tough for people struggling with anxiety, depression, or other issues to get help when they need it.

• Only 35% of Primary Care Needs Are Covered: This means over half of Arizonans don’t have enough access to basic care like check-ups and treatment for common illnesses.

• Over 18% of Arizona’s Population is 65+: As people age, they need more healthcare, but there aren’t enough workers to meet the growing demand.

• Nurses Leave Their Jobs Quickly: Almost 1 in 4 new nurses quit their jobs within the first year. Stress and burnout are big reasons why.

Why Does This Matter?

When there aren’t enough healthcare workers, it means:

• Longer Wait Times: People have to wait weeks or months to see a doctor.

• Stressed Workers: Doctors and nurses work long hours, making them tired and burned out.



• Fewer Options: Rural areas and small towns often don’t have specialists, like heart doctors or mental health counselors.

This is not just bad for people’s health—it’s also bad for the state’s economy. If Arizona fixed these shortages, it could add billions of dollars to the economy by helping more people stay healthy and work.

What Can We Do?

While the challenges are steep, Arizona is not standing still. Efforts are underway to expand healthcare education programs and increase the number of trained professionals. Schools for doctors and nurses are being pushed to grow their capacity, but that expansion requires more funding, faculty, and infrastructure.

At the same time, strategies to retain workers are gaining traction—these include offering student loan forgiveness, reducing administrative tasks with tools like AI scribes, and ensuring healthcare teams have high-quality support staff to lighten the load.

Telehealth is also becoming a valuable tool in the fight to close the care gap. For people living in rural areas, being able to consult a physician or therapist via video call can make all the difference. While not a full replacement for in-person care, telehealth opens up access in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago.

Despite the current state of strain, there is hope on the horizon. With thoughtful investment, innovative technologies, and a commitment to equity and workforce development, Arizona can begin to rebuild its healthcare system to meet the needs of all its residents—no matter where they live. The path forward won’t be easy, but it is possible. And with so much at stake, the time to act is now.

Written By: Stefan Van Der Heyden, President: HealthOp Solutions