What does it mean to practice in an underserved area?

[Bored_Conscious]

This is for a secondary question that asks me to "Please indicate the area(s) of medicine you are interested in and briefly describe your significant activities for each respective interest"

One of the options says "practicing in an underserved area".

The wording trips me up a bit. It says practicing in an underserved AREA. So would this only refer to rural populations? I can't seem to think of any other underserved AREA.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, underserved populations include those who receive fewer health care services, encounter barriers to accessing primary health care services (e.g. economic, cultural, and/or linguistic), have a lack of familiarity with the health care delivery system, and face a shortage of readily available providers.

Using the definition above, I would consider immigrants (particularly those who can't speak English) or those with intellectual disabilities to be underserved. These populations encounter barriers that limit their accessibility to health care services, lack a familiarity with the U.S. medical system, and face shortage of readily available providers. However, I don't think there are really AREAS where there they are grouped together that can designate that place as an underserved AREA.

Should I just take this question to mean "interest in working with underserved populations"?

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[14_karat]

There are absolutely underserved “areas” and they can be found in rural, suburban, and urban locations. These could be towns / zip codes with a very low median household incomes , areas plagued by food deserts, street violence, underfunded schools, areas that are home to large immigrant or refugee populations who may suffer from language barrier, etc.

 

[Bored_Conscious]

There are absolutely underserved “areas” and they can be found in rural, suburban, and urban locations. These could be towns / zip codes with a very low median household incomes , areas plagued by food deserts, street violence, underfunded schools, areas that are home to large immigrant or refugee populations who may suffer from language barrier, etc.

The exact response I was looking for. I don't know why low median household income and immigrant/refugee populations slipped my mind.

I assume underserved areas can also refer to things outside of healthcare correct? I didn't consider food deserts, street violence, underfunded schools ,etc. to be considered underserved because I was strictly thinking about things related to healthcare.

 

[LizzyM]

Medically Underserved Areas/Populations are areas or populations designated by HRSA as having too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty or a high elderly population. Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers and may be geographic (a county or service area), population (e.g. low income or Medicaid eligible) or facilities (e.g. federally qualified health center or other state or federal prisons).

MUA Find

Explore data for Medically underserved Areas/Populations by state and counties

data.hrsa.gov

 

[Bored_Conscious]

Medically Underserved Areas/Populations are areas or populations designated by HRSA as having too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty or a high elderly population. Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers and may be geographic (a county or service area), population (e.g. low income or Medicaid eligible) or facilities (e.g. federally qualified health center or other state or federal prisons).

MUA Find

Explore data for Medically underserved Areas/Populations by state and counties

data.hrsa.gov

Out of curiosity, why is high elderly population underserved? I was under the impression that they would be classified as vulnerable rather than underserved.

 

[LizzyM]

The elderly use more health care resources than younger folks do. Therefore, the demand/need for services is higher in communities where a disproportionate share of the population are older adults.
I didn't write this; it is a federal statement.

 

[Bored_Conscious]

The elderly use more health care resources than younger folks do. Therefore, the demand/need for services is higher in communities where a disproportionate share of the population are older adults.
I didn't write this; it is a federal statement.

Cool, good to know!