Through my Healthcare Data Visualization course I, alongside two other classmates, were tasked with creating a dashboard using a data set and platform of our choice. Using data from the 2018 Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) dataset provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, our analysis reveals critical insights into the challenges and opportunities for improving healthcare access statewide.

Key Findings from the Analysis

1. Healthcare Shortages Are Severe in Underserved Areas
   The average provider-to-population ratio in HPSA-designated areas is 2.11 clinicians per 10,000 residents, significantly below the recommended 6.67 clinicians. This stark disparity highlights the strain on underserved communities, especially in rural regions.
2. Poverty Rates Compound Access Issues
   North Carolina’s poverty rate—measured as residents below 200% of the federal poverty line—is 27%, slightly above the national average of 26.9%. This economic disadvantage exacerbates barriers to healthcare, disproportionately affecting rural counties.
3. Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) Require Immediate Attention
   MUA scores, which account for clinician ratios, infant mortality, poverty levels, and the percentage of elderly populations, show an alarming average of 51.76 across NC—well below the national threshold of 62. Henderson and Transylvania counties, with MUA scores of 0, represent the most critically underserved areas in the state.
4. Rural Hospitals Closures and Policy Impacts
   Historical trends show peaks in shortages in 2002 and 2015-2018, correlating with changes in HPSA methodology and rural hospital closures. These events further stress the importance of sustained policy interventions.
5. Prioritization of Resources by HPSA Scores
   The HPSA scoring system, used by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), prioritizes counties for clinician assignments. Mecklenburg County has the highest HPSA score due to its large population, indicating where current resources are concentrated. However, smaller rural counties with lower scores risk being overlooked despite their critical needs.

Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental need, yet many counties across North Carolina face significant shortages in healthcare providers, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. Our findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions. Allocating resources to counties with the highest ratios of underserved populations, addressing the economic and geographic barriers to care, and replicating successful policies in declining shortage areas can help mitigate these disparities. For policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders, this analysis serves as a roadmap for reducing inequities and ensuring better access to healthcare for all North Carolinians.

Sources:

https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find

https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/working-poor/2020/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%2037.2%20million%20people%2C%20or%2011.4,notes%20section%20for%20examples%20of%20poverty%20levels.)

https://healthycommunitiesnc.org/

ciceroinstitute.org/research/north-carolina-physician-shortage-facts/