While Hawaii has more licensed physicians per 100,000 residents than any other state, about half the roughly 9,700 doctors live outside the state. Most are based on the mainland. Some get Hawaii licenses because they practice here part of the year. Some do so because they intend to eventually move here or want that as an option. Others retire from their Hawaii practices and move elsewhere but maintain a local license. Some, like radiologists, maintain licenses in multiple states so they can practice telemedicine across state borders. Here is a breakdown of where Hawaii-licensed physicians have their addresses:

DEMAND FOR DOCTOR’S OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY

Proponents of a new licensing compact say it eventually could help attract more physicians to Hawaii, easing a growing shortage. A University of Hawaii study recently estimated Hawaii was short nearly 900 doctors. The supply numbers in the study don’t match the number of licensed physicians in Hawaii because the analysis was based on a variety of factors, including a full-time equivalency approach (essentially hours devoted to patient care, not number of individual doctors). The report used 2014 data, which showed only 3,594 actively practicing Hawaii physicians in nonmilitary settings. Using the FTE approach, the charts below show the specialties in each county most affected by the shortage.

Sources: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Federation of State Medical Boards, Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment Project report, Dr. Kelley Withy
GRAPHIC BY MARTHA HERNANDEZ / MHERNANDEZ@STARADVERTISER.COM