Evaluation of Alternative New Health Professional Shortage Area Designation Criteria

Funder:	Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC)
Research center:	WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Phone: 206.685.0402
Lead researcher:	L. Gary Hart, PhD , 520.626.6258, garyhart@email.arizona.edu
Project completed:	January 2002
Topic:	Workforce

This project uses detailed Washington state data on generalist supply for its 125 Health Service Areas to evaluate alternative variations of the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) criteria. The overall objective is to determine which combination of factors provides the most reliable and valid criteria upon which to base new shortage designations. Data obtained from the Washington State Department of Health licensing system and renewal survey have allowed the supply of providers to be estimated. Results from this and associated studies will be used by Bureau of Primary Health Care staff to determine new shortage designation criteria.

Publications

• Evaluation of Alternative Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Definitions in Washington State
  Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, L. Gary Hart
  Date: 08 / 2006
  Technical brief describing the differences in Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation status of the 124 Health Service Areas (HSAs) in Washington State that result when the current designation system is used and provider counts versus provider full-time equivalencies (FTEs) are used.