Designating Places and Populations as Medically Underserved: A Proposal for a New Approach
Author: Ricketts, T.C.
Date Published: 2007
This article describes the development of a theory-based, data-driven replacement for the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation systems. Data describing utilization of primary medical care and the distribution of practitioners were used to develop estimates of the effects of demographic and community characteristics on use of primary medical care. A scoring system was developed that estimates each community's effective access to primary care. This approach was reviewed and contributed to by stakeholder groups.
Date Published: 2007
This article describes the development of a theory-based, data-driven replacement for the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation systems. Data describing utilization of primary medical care and the distribution of practitioners were used to develop estimates of the effects of demographic and community characteristics on use of primary medical care. A scoring system was developed that estimates each community's effective access to primary care. This approach was reviewed and contributed to by stakeholder groups.
