OH · Healthcare shortage profile
Wood County, OH
Home to 132,248 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 132,248
- Peak shortage score
- 23.0
- MUA Index
- 61.3
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Wood County holds a moderate federal shortage burden - 6 active HPSA designations, more than 54% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 6
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Dental shortages
- 23
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Wood County carries 6 active designations, above 54% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Wood County falls in the upper half of OH counties by active-designation volume, at rank 27 of 88. Ties share a rank.
Computed from current designated HPSA rows for every five-digit county FIPS. See the placement methodology.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 39173. Population: 132,248.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 6 active (designated) HPSAs in Wood County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wood, County OF | dental | 23.0 |
| LI-Bowling Green | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Wood, County OF | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Wood, County OF | primary_care | 18.0 |
| LI-South Wood County | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Wood County Mhca | mental_health | 16.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Wood County
Dental care carries Wood County's deepest shortage reading, 23.0 on HRSA's 0–26 dental scale, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 19.0 of 25; Mental health reads 19.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 61.3, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Wood County sits in the middle of the national designation-volume distribution (above 54% of counties) with 6 active records. That is enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the heaviest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (3/2/1) before assuming every care category is equally short.
Wood County falls in the upper half of OH counties by active-designation volume, at rank 27 of 88. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Wood County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).
- Primary care
Primary care
3 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
2 designations
- Dental 1
Dental
1 designations
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Wood County, OH · 2026 HRSA designation data updated quarterly; HPSA scores 0-25 (primary/mental) and 0-26 (dental); higher = greater shortage severity. Coverage tiers from U.S. Census ACS PUMS + KFF state tracker.
Acting on Wood County's designations
Wood County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Wood County's 6 active designations make providers here eligible for National Health Service Corps loan repayment, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's primary care burden compares with the rest of OH before you draw conclusions from a single score. OH overview
- Check whether an area clears HRSA's 3,500:1 population-to-provider threshold with the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score. HPSA ratio checker
HPSA scores describe shortage severity within HRSA's designation criteria, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; use HRSA's current tools to verify a designation.
Nearby dental score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active dental HPSA score to Wood County's 23.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wood County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Wood County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 61.3. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Wood County have?
Wood County, OH has 6 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 3 in primary care, 2 in mental health, and 1 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Wood County's HPSA score of 23.0 mean?
23.0 in dental care clears 17, HRSA's high-priority line, which is what makes providers here eligible for NHSC placement and enhanced reimbursement.
What healthcare providers are needed in Wood County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Wood County needs additional providers in primary care (family physicians, internists, pediatricians), mental health (psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers), and dental care (dentists, dental hygienists). The National Health Service Corps offers loan repayment and scholarship programs for providers who serve in designated shortage areas.
Next read: Dental Shortage in America · OH state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 39173. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the HRSA Data Warehouse. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.