HEALTH DATA ANALYSIS
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
Key Findings:
- Uninsured adult rates are highest in Tangipahoa (11%) and St. Helena (10%), exceeding or equal to both the Louisiana (10%) and U.S. (11%) averages, while West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana report the lowest rates at 7%.
- Children’s uninsured rates remain low across the region, generally around 3%–4%, compared to the national average of 5%.
In table 1, 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.
In table 2, 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.
In table 3, 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.
Maternity Care Target Areas
The Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTA) scores are supplementary metrics indicating areas in need of maternity care services. Parishes with high MCTA scores, such as Pointe Coupee (score of 21) and Washington Parish (score of 20), face pronounced maternity care shortages, stressing the importance of targeted maternity health programs.
