Achieving HPSA Status: Meeting the Criteria
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) defines the criteria used in the process of designating communities, populations, or facilities as HPSAs. The application process is administered by the Shortage Designation Branch (SDB) of the Bureau of Health Professions Resources (BHPR).
The application process begins with a preliminary study:
![fm=f_e8K1lBo.jpg_1675794518 fm=f_e8K1lBo.jpg_1675794518](https://hpsa.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/fmf_e8K1lBo.jpg_1675794518.jpeg)
![fm=f_5201.jpg_1675795364 fm=f_5201.jpg_1675795364](https://hpsa.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/fmf_5201.jpg_1675795364-scaled.jpeg)
Once the preliminary study is complete, the following elements are known:
Further steps HPSA Acumen performs on behalf of its clients will produce:
- Population statistics
- Poverty statistics
- Age/Sex determinations of health care needs
- Minority assessment
![fm=f_1157.jpg_1675795492 fm=f_1157.jpg_1675795492](https://hpsa.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/fmf_1157.jpg_1675795492-scaled.jpeg)
Further steps HPSA Acumen performs on behalf of its clients will produce:
- Population statistics
- Poverty statistics
- Age/Sex determinations of health care needs
- Minority assessment
![fm=f_1157.jpg_1675795492 fm=f_1157.jpg_1675795492](https://hpsa.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/fmf_1157.jpg_1675795492-scaled.jpeg)