Excerpt from the report summary: The supply of personnel in health occupations is lower on a per capita basis in rural areas than in urban areas--in 1962 there were 53.9 percent more physicians per 100,000 persons in urban areas than in rural. This may be a reflection of population sparsity or the concentration of lower incomes, both of which would contribute to the lack of support for specialized medical personnel and facilities in rural areas. Though modern transportation has lessened the need for complete local medical services and facilities, persons living in extremely rural areas still do not have the ease of access to specialized and comprehensive medical care that those living in or near metropolitan areas have. This is partly the result of a trend since about 1950 toward specialization in medical practice. In 1950, 36 percent of the physicians were in private practice compared with 61 percent in 1963. Most of these practiced in urban areas.