Mercy Health: Tiffin and Defiance Hospitals - Seneca County and Defiance County
Overview
In an effort to invest in our healthcare providers, Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Health Defiance Hospital put in extensive effort to lay the groundwork for three types of federal designations for our county. We are now a recognized Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). This opens the doors for benefits such as federal and state funded student loan forgiveness for physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, and many other healthcare professionals. Along with our healthcare providers, Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Health Defiance Hospital are committed to the health and wellbeing of our community with the hopes that through this recruitment and retention initiative, we can boost access to healthcare in our county.
What is a HPSA?
HPSAs are designations that indicate health care provider shortages in three platforms of health: primary care, mental health, and dental health. Each platform of health receives its own designation. Each designation is scored to show the severity of the shortage. Scores range from 0 to 25, with 25 having the greatest shortage. The maps below outline each type of HPSA for Seneca County, OH and Defiance County, OH.
Tiffin Hospital Address: 45 St. Lawrence Dr, Tiffin, OH 44883
In a Primary Care HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI – Seneca/Fostoria Service Area
ID: 1394785421
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
Score: 16
Designation Date: 11/17/2021
Last Update Date: 11/17/2021
In a Mental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI-Seneca/Sandusky/Wyandot Counties
ID: 7393213391
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
Score: 18
Designation Date: 11/15/2013
Last Update Date: 09/07/2021
In a Dental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI-Seneca County
ID: 6397526977
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
Score: 15
Designation Date: 08/15/2013
Last Update Date: 08/18/2021
Defiance Hospital Address: 1404 E 2nd St, Defiance, OH 43512
In a Primary Care HPSA: N/A
In a Mental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI-Defiance/Fulton/Henry/Williams Counties
ID: 7393813179
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
Score: 16
Designation Date: 03/30/2020
Last Update Date: 09/08/2021
In a Dental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI – Defiance County
ID: 6391366763
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Proposed for Withdrawal
Score: 15
Designation Date: 01/10/2020
Last Update Date: 09/10/2021
What are the benefits of a HPSA?
In an effort to boost provider recruitment and retention in these often-rural shortage areas, benefits have been established to help build healthcare access to those who need it the most. Here are the benefits available in our specific shortage designations.
Loan repayment opportunities are possible because Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Health Defiance Hospital forged new partnerships and secured HPSAs in this region. Loan repayment is just one benefit that acknowledges you as the driving force that makes healthcare possible in our community. Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Health Defiance Hospital truly appreciates working with you.
Programs available to eligible Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Health Defiance Hospital primary care and mental health providers:
Physicians – Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program, Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program
Advanced Practitioners – Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program(Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners only), Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (nurses only), Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program, Ohio Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program
Registered Nurses – Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program, Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
Mental Health Providers – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (RNs and APRNs), Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program
Pharmacists – Ohio Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program
What do these loan repayment programs offer?
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Advanced practice nurses and registered nurses may be eligible to apply for loan repayment worth up to 85% off their student loan balance in return for working at a Critical Shortage Facility, like our hospital.
Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program – Physicians working full-time or part-time in primary care or mental health may be eligible for up to $50,000 for a 2-year service commitment at an eligible ambulatory, outpatient practice site in a HPSA. One-year extension contracts are available for the remaining student loan balance.
Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program – Mental Health Professionals working full-time or part-time in HPSAs, or other high-burdened substance use disorder areas of the state may be eligible for up to $50,000 in loan repayment in return for a 2-year service commitment. For this program, a minimum of 50% of clinician’s direct client treatment time must be spent providing SUD treatment.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) - CNAs, certified medical assistants, licensed occupational therapists, LCSWs, LPCs, MFTs, master’s level social workers, psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric mental health practitioners, occupational therapists, psychology doctoral interns, behavioral health paraprofessionals, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, CRNAs, CNMs, CNSs, LPNs, PNSs, pharmacists, and SUD counselors may be eligible for up to $250,000 for a 6-year service commitment at a STAR-certified site.
Ohio Health Professional Loan Repayment Program – Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, Certified Nurse Midwives and Pharmacists may be eligible for up to $50,000 for a 2-year service commitment at an eligible ambulatory, outpatient practice site in a HPSA.
Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program – Physicians, Psychologists, LCSWs, LSWs, LCMSWs, Psychiatric NPs, MFTs, LPCs, and SUD Counselors working in a pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, as a child or adolescent psychiatrist, or behavioral health providers working in pediatrics or substance use disorder services providing full-time services to pediatric patients may be eligible to receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment in return for a 3-year service commitment. Please refer to program guidelines for a full list of specialties and subspecialties.
To find out if your address is located in this HPSA designation, please visit the following website:
https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/by-address
For more information, please contact:
HPSA Acumen’s Benefit Support Specialists are available to you:
716.483.0888 ext. 206
Email us here at [email protected]
Facility Contact Information:
Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital
Joan Kimmet
Chief Nursing Officer
(419) 964-5923
[email protected]
Mercy Health Defiance Hospital
Sonya Selhorst
COO/CNO
(419) 785-3983
[email protected]