WV · Healthcare shortage profile
Putnam County, WV
Peak severity leads this reading: Putnam County's highest active HPSA score is 21.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 57,440.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 57,440
- Peak shortage score
- 21.0
- MUA Index
- 48.7
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Putnam County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 3 active HPSA designations, more than 20% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 3
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Mental-health shortages
- 21
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Based on HRSA primary/mental/dental shortage severity, Medically Underserved Area status, and estimated unmet provider need -- not patient outcomes, insurance access, facility quality, or wait times.
Dense ZCTA lattice over Putnam County
Putnam County intersects 17 Census ZCTAs, above the 15-ZIP dense-tercile cut. Shortage designations still attach at the county (or smaller HPSA) grain; the ZIP list is geography, not a second severity score.
Largest land-share ZCTAs in this county
5 additional ZCTAs intersect this county in the crosswalk (ordered by land share).
Source: Census ZCTA–county relationship file joined to this portal's county FIPS set. As of 2026-08-15.
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Putnam County, WV on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-15. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
-
Peak HPSA score 21.0 clears HRSA's 17-point high-priority line.
Scores at or above 17 on the 0–25/26 scales open NHSC placement priority for the matching provider type; eligibility still follows the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
-
33.3% of Putnam County's 3 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental (denominator 3).
Putnam County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
3 Top 80% higher than 20% of 3,289 real US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs · 2026
State peer position. Putnam County falls in the lower half of WV counties by active-designation volume, at rank 41 of 55. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 54079. Population: 57,440.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 3 active (designated) HPSAs in Putnam County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Womencare, Inc | mental_health | 21.0 |
| Womencare, Inc | dental | 21.0 |
| Womencare, Inc | primary_care | 20.0 |
Light-burden reading for Putnam County
Peak severity leads this reading: Putnam County's highest active HPSA score is 21.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Putnam County's shortage runs equally deep in mental health and dental care: both scored 21.0 by HRSA, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 20.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 48.7, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Putnam County carries 3 active designations and sits below the national mid-pack (above 20% of counties). A light footprint still matters: a single high-score dental or mental-health record can open program geography even when the county total looks small next to heavy peers.
Putnam County falls in the lower half of WV counties by active-designation volume, at rank 41 of 55. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Putnam County, WV · 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 Putnam County's designations
Putnam County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Putnam County's 3 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 WV before you draw conclusions from a single score. WV 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 score lookup
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.
Counties near Putnam County's mental score of 21.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active mental HPSA score to 21.0 (severity lead on this page is “WOMENCARE, INC”).
Pinellas County, FL
21.0 mental score · 959,107 pop.
Ocean County, NJ
21.0 mental score · 637,229 pop.
Greenville County, SC
21.0 mental score · 525,534 pop.
Pinal County, AZ
21.0 mental score · 425,264 pop.
Lancaster County, NE
21.0 mental score · 322,608 pop.
Erie County, PA
21.0 mental score · 270,876 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Putnam County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Putnam County carries an MUA designation (index 48.7; lower = greater measured need) in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- Which record sets Putnam County's peak score of 21.0?
- "WOMENCARE, INC" leads the active set (score 21.0; mental health; 58,105 people in the service area; designated 05/20/2003). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 3 active rows: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental.
- What provider types does Putnam County's severity cover?
- Active rows break down 1 primary care / 1 mental health / 1 dental. Closing published gaps would take about 0 additional clinician FTEs on this release.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 54079. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_PC.csv (primary care) , BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) and BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_DH.csv (dental) — download the normalized export on our open data page. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
HRSA Data Warehouse HPSA + MUA/P records for FIPS 54079 (Putnam County, WV), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 21.0; signature peak score 21.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.