Who are the underserved populations in healthcare?

Underserved populations include consumers who share one or more of the following characteristics. 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.

How many people in the US are medically underserved?

US States That Are Most Medically Underserved As of October 28, 2020, there were approximately 3,438 designated MUA/Ps in the US. California had the largest number of MUA/Ps with 214, followed by Texas with 204 and Illinois with 176.

What are 3 underserved population groups?

Vulnerable populations include the economically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, the uninsured, low-income children, the elderly, the homeless, those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and those with other chronic health conditions, including severe mental illness.

What qualifies as an underserved community?

“Underserved,” by its literal definition, implies a decreased level of service or access to health care. People who are underserved face systemic and institutional barriers which prevent them from accessing health care and/or receiving the same quality of health care as people not facing those barriers.

What are examples of underserved populations?

These may include persons from underserved communities such as rural areas or impoverished urban sectors, persons in poverty or of low socioeconomic status, the uninsured, persons from variously disadvantaged backgrounds, variously vulnerable children and families, persons who have been mistreated or abused, low income …

What are special populations in healthcare?

AHRQ’s priority populations, specified by Congress in the Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-129) include: women, children, racial and ethnic minorities, populations with special healthcare needs (chronic illness, disabilities, and end of life care needs), the elderly, low-income, inner-city.

Is Georgia medically underserved?

Georgia has 148 medically underserved areas or populations, which means that only 11 of Georgia’s 159 counties do not have one or the other. Fulton is Georgia’s most populated county and more than 200,000 people live in communities there designated as either an underserved area or as an underserved population.

Is Los Angeles medically underserved?

South Los Angeles continues to be a community facing significant socioeconomic and health challenges. According to MLKCH officials, the area is federally designated as Medically Underserved and a Healthcare Professional Shortage Area.

What does underserved minority mean?

Underserved Populations means persons who are members of ethnic or racial minorities, have disabilities, or are from communities outside the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson.

What are the vulnerable populations?

Vulnerable populations include patients who are racial or ethnic minorities, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured or those with certain medical conditions. Members of vulnerable populations often have health conditions that are exacerbated by unnecessarily inadequate healthcare.

What are health care issues in underserved communities?

Researchers and health care providers have found that lack of access to healthy food, adequate housing, transportation, and education account for 40% of what contributes to poor health within vulnerable populations .

Who are underserved populations in education?

The guide focuses on five student populations considered by AASL to be underserved in K-12 education: children in foster care, homeless children, children of incarcerated parents, children of migrant workers, and children in non-traditional families.

Who are the medically underserved?

An underserved area or medically underserved population designation is only available for primary medical care. Medically underserved area (MUA) and medically underserved population (MUP) designation do not expire and are not updated.

What does medically underserved mean?

medically underserved area. A region of the US that has a relative or absolute deficiency of healthcare resources, including hospital beds, equipment and/or medical personnel.

Is there shortage of mental health professionals in America?

The United States is suffering from a dramatic shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health providers. And the shortfall is particularly dire in rural regions, many urban neighborhoods, and community mental health centers that often treat the most severe mental illnesses.

What does underserved communities mean?

Underserved Communities. Underserved communities are most commonly characterized by poverty and a lack of access to resources. For example, in the United States, most people in underserved communities live below the poverty line, belong to a minority demographic, and suffer from increased risk of serious medical conditions.