HEALTH

The Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) is analyzing healthcare access across various parishes to identify areas of need and improve health outcomes. This report examines healthcare availability, including Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores, Health Professional Shortage Area Full-Time Equivalent (HPSA FTE) scores, Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTA), health outcomes, behavioral health risks, socioeconomic determinants, and environmental factors impacting healthcare access in the CRPC region. The analysis draws on data from the Bureau of Health Workforce and County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, covering 11 parishes in the CRPC region.

Healthcare Access & Provider Shortages

The bar chart below breaks down the population into three main categories: those not in the labor force, those in the labor force, and the unemployed civilian labor force.

The Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) FTE score indicates the number of full-time equivalent healthcare practitioners required in a designated shortage area to meet target ratios. Parishes such as Livingston Parish (17.33 FTE needed) and Tangipahoa Parish (4.09 FTE needed) have significant shortages, highlighting a critical need for additional healthcare providers.

The Health Professional Shortage (HPSA) score, ranging from 0 to 26, prioritizes regions for clinician assignment. Parishes such as Pointe Coupee (score of 20) and Tangipahoa (score of 20) have high HPSA scores, emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare resources in these areas.

Health Professional Shortage Areas

Primary Care

In the table below, the HPSA FTE and HPSA scores highlight substantial primary care shortages across several parishes, particularly in Livingston Parish (17.33 FTE needed) and Tangipahoa Parish (4.09 FTE needed). High HPSA scores in Pointe Coupee (score of 20) and East Feliciana (score of 17) indicate priority areas for clinician deployment. Additionally, maternity care needs are critical in Pointe Coupee (MCTA score of 21) and Washington Parish (score of 20), underscoring the necessity for targeted maternity health services.

Dental Care

In the table below, shortages in dental healthcare are evident, with parishes like East Baton Rouge (11.96 FTE needed) and Tangipahoa (8.28 FTE needed) showing high demand. High HPSA scores in Ascension Parish (score of 22) and St. Helena (score of 18) suggest these areas are in critical need of dental health resources, especially in rural settings.

Mental Health

In the table below, mental health provider shortages are pronounced, with Livingston Parish (6.88 FTE needed) and Tangipahoa (7.72 FTE needed) requiring additional support. High HPSA scores in Tangipahoa (score of 20) and Washington Parish (score of 18) emphasize the urgency for mental health resources in these parishes to meet growing demand.