WINDHAM, N.H., Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The United States is projected to face a shortfall of 2,020 FTE general surgeons in 2026, with the gap expected to grow to 3,170 by 2031. To help healthcare leaders better understand the factors contributing to this trend, Medicus Healthcare Solutions, a leading locum tenens and healthcare workforce solutions company, has released a new report, General Surgery at a Critical Point: Responding to Rising Demand and Limited Supply.
The report compiles national workforce data and proprietary insights to provide a comprehensive look at the general surgery workforce. It examines the factors driving the growing supply-demand imbalance, including rising surgical demand, training pipeline constraints, and rural access disparities, while outlining actionable strategies healthcare organizations can use to strengthen surgical coverage and workforce stability.
Key Findings Within the Report Include:
- There are approximately 9 general surgeons per 100,000 people in the U.S.
- Roughly 60 million individuals reside in rural areas, while only 8.5% of general surgeons provide care there.
- Of the 48 states with rural hospitals, 40 have at least one hospital that has stopped offering general surgery.
- 17.1% of hospitals report being unable to maintain 24/7 surgery coverage, with more than half citing insufficient surgeon availability as the reason.
Access the Complete Report:For an in-depth look at the general surgeon workforce and strategies for navigating ongoing shortages, access the complete report here
About Medicus Healthcare SolutionsMedicus Healthcare Solutions is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing locum tenens and healthcare workforce solutions companies, partnering with hospitals, health systems, medical groups, and clinicians across the United States. Medicus delivers a fully managed, end-to-end workforce model that seamlessly integrates high-performing physicians and advanced practice providers with a single, accountable team overseeing recruiting, credentialing, travel, scheduling, and onboarding.
The company’s Medicus Transition Program rapidly stabilizes and rebuilds clinical services in complex care environments. MedicusOne, its AI-powered contingent workforce platform, provides healthcare leaders with real-time visibility into schedules, coverage, and spend to support smarter, more controlled workforce decisions, while MedicusIQ offers clinicians a streamlined, mobile-first experience to manage every aspect of their assignments. Guided by a people-first philosophy, Medicus builds long-term partnerships grounded in transparency, accountability, and measurable results. Learn more at www.medicushcs.com.
