| Description |
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) can be geographic areas, populations, or facilities. These areas have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers (https://bhw.hrsa.gov/workforce-shortage-areas/shortage-designation). The shortage of healthcare providers in HPSAs has significant implications for healthcare access and delivery, particularly for underserved and marginalized populations. This study aims to examine the distribution of internal medicine residents from the University of Utah, in their placement across HPSAs and to analyze the specialties they practice in different regions. Using Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) data, we analyzed the distribution of internal medicine residents across HPSAs and non-HPSAs and identified the specialties in which they practice. Our findings indicate that internal medicine residents are proportionately concentrated in HPSA and non-HPSA regions. However, the effect of those located within HPSA areas is unable to be determined. Additionally, most residents are practicing close to where they completed their residency. These findings have important implications for addressing healthcare disparities and promoting greater equity in healthcare access and delivery, particularly for underserved and marginalized populations living in HPSAs. |
