title: An evaluation of criteria to designate urban health manpower shortage areas.
abstract: In the United States, federally designated health manpower shortage areas (HMSAs) have been eligible for a variety of programs intended to improve access to health services. Before 1978, HMSAs were predominantly rural. The Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-484) mandated that the criteria for designating HMSAs be revised to facilitate designation of urban areas. The most recent version of the HMSA criteria was published in 1980. This study applied the 1980 criteria to two Canadian urban areas. In general, the criteria did not succeed in distinguishing areas with relatively poorer access from those with relatively better access.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011792:Quebec; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health