Medically Underserved Designation on AMCAS

[BubbaGump15]

Hello,

I was reading through my application and noticed that for my birthplace and current county of residence, AMCAS marked it with a "(U)" indicating it is medically underserved. I answered "No" to the question asking if I felt my region was underserved since I am fortunate enough to always have had access to quality care. So my question is, what does qualify a region as underserved? I am just interested to know, since I had always felt both areas had a decent hospital system.

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[ladymiresa]

Hello,

I was reading through my application and noticed that for my birthplace and current county of residence, AMCAS marked it with a "(U)" indicating it is medically underserved. I answered "No" to the question asking if I felt my region was underserved since I am fortunate enough to always have had access to quality care. So my question is, what does qualify a region as underserved? I am just interested to know, since I had always felt both areas had a decent hospital system.

The department of health and human services designates areas that have health professional shortages. you can see what those areas are here:
HPSA Find

 

[BubbaGump15]

The department of health and human services designates areas that have health professional shortages. you can see what those areas are here:

Ah okay - thanks. So it is defined as areas with health profession shortages?

 

[ladymiresa]

Ah okay - thanks. So it is defined as areas with health profession shortages?

Yes but it's not just that the area doesn't have doctors. It's that there is some population that is not being served by those doctors. So you felt like you always had access to healthcare and hospital systems in your area but what about people near you living in poverty? immigrants? minorities? the elderly? Any of those subpopulations might be underserved, warranting your area to be classified as such even if you personally aren't effected

 

[BubbaGump15]

Yes but it's not just that the area doesn't have doctors. It's that there is some population that is not being served by those doctors. So you felt like you always had access to healthcare and hospital systems in your area but what about people near you living in poverty? immigrants? minorities? the elderly? Any of those subpopulations might be underserved, warranting your area to be classified as such even if you personally aren't effected

That makes sense. Thanks for answering my question!