How Communities Attracted Physicians After World War II

Finding Each Other at the War’s End

The Council on Medical Service of the American Medical Association (AMA) has helped physicians find practice communities and communities find physicians through the Physicians’ Placement Service, which was established at the end of World War II. At that time, in many communities, one barrier to securing physicians’ services was a lack of modern medical facilities. To encourage communities to develop medical facilities, the AMA’s Committee on Medical and Related Facilities published a pamphlet, “Community Efforts Provide Medical Facilities.”¹ The pamphlet provided specific descriptions and photographic examples of how some communities succeeded in attracting physicians. Images shown here are not the best or the only examples, but the facilities shown reveal a sample of community health care settings observed and documented by members of the Physicians’ Placement Service and compiled in its guide. Pamphlets included articles and exhibits titled “How Little Towns Get Good Doctors” and “Bringing Doctors to Main Street” and were distributed as part of a public outreach effort.²

Figure 1. Reception Room

Courtesy of the American Medical Association Archives.¹

Figure 2. Office

Courtesy of the American Medical Association Archives.¹

Figure 3. Hospital Bedroom

Courtesy of the American Medical Association Archives.¹

Figure 4. Emergency Room

Courtesy of the American Medical Association Archives.¹

Figure 5. Kitchen

Courtesy of the American Medical Association Archives.¹