US Medical Term · regulatory
Health Professional Shortage Area
Área de Escasez de Profesionales de Salud
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Health Professional Shortage Area |
| Spanish (Español) | Área de Escasez de Profesionales de Salud |
| Chinese (中文) | 卫生专业人员短缺地区 |
| Korean (한국어) | 의료 전문가 부족 지역 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Khu vực thiếu nhân lực y tế |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Health Professional Shortage Area |
| Portuguese (Português) | Área de escassez de profissionais de saúde |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | พื้นที่ขาดแคลนบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 医療従事者不足地域 |
What it means
A Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) is a location, population group, or facility designated by the federal government as lacking enough primary care, dental, or mental health providers relative to the local population. Patients in HPSAs often face long travel distances, extended wait times, or no specialist access. Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics frequently serve HPSA communities. Being in a HPSA may qualify you for telehealth waivers, expanded Medicaid benefits, or sliding-fee clinic discounts. Clinicians practicing in HPSAs may earn National Health Service Corps loan repayment. You can look up HPSA designation status through the HRSA Data Warehouse website.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
HPSA—health professional shortage area
área de escasez de profesionales de salud
medically underserved area
área médicamente desatendida
provider shortage zone
zona con escasez de proveedores
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026