Medically Underserved Area Mono-discipline · mental health

ND · Healthcare shortage profile

Ward County, ND

Peak severity leads this reading: Ward County's highest active HPSA score is 17.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 69,919.

Active HPSAs
1
Population
69,919
Peak shortage score
17.0
MUA Index
58.3
ND state overview → About this data

Light-burden verdict

According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Ward County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 1 active HPSA designation, more than 2% of the 3,289 real US counties, with mental health the deepest gap.

1
Active HPSA designations
1
Mental-health shortages
17
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 98%
US counties by volume

Dense ZCTA lattice over Ward County

Ward County intersects 24 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

12 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 Ward County, ND 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.

  1. Peak HPSA score 17.0 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.

  2. 100% of Ward County's 1 active designations are mental health.

    Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 0 primary care, 1 mental health, 0 dental (denominator 1).

Ward County vs. every real US county

Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none

1 Top 98% higher than 2% of 3,289 real US counties

0–20: 3,115 real US counties (95%). This entry sits in this band. 20–40: 128 real US counties (4%). Above this entry. 40–60: 32 real US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 7 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 2 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 2 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every real US county, bucketed by value

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. Ward County falls in the lower half of ND counties by active-designation volume, at rank 46 of 53. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 38101. Population: 69,919.

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 58.3

Active HPSA scores

Mental Health 17.0

Current designated records only · mental health only on this FIPS. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?

Highest-severity HPSA designations

All 1 active (designated) HPSAs in Ward County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
North Central Human Service Center mental_health 17.0

Light-burden reading for Ward County

Peak severity leads this reading: Ward County's highest active HPSA score is 17.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Ward County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 17.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 58.3, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.

Ward County carries 1 active designation and sits below the national mid-pack (above 2% 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.

Ward County falls in the lower half of ND counties by active-designation volume, at rank 46 of 53. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.

Acting on Ward County's high-priority mental health

Ward County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.

  • Ward County's high-priority mental health designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
  • See how the county's mental health burden compares with the rest of ND before drawing conclusions from a single score. ND overview
  • Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. 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 Ward County's mental score of 17.0

One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active mental HPSA score to 17.0 (severity lead on this page is “North Central Human Service Center”).

Lafourche County, LA

17.0 mental score · 97,557 pop.

Dane County, WI

17.0 mental score · 561,504 pop.

McHenry County, IL

17.0 mental score · 310,229 pop.

Clay County, MO

17.0 mental score · 253,335 pop.

Dorchester County, SC

17.0 mental score · 161,540 pop.

Flagler County, FL

17.0 mental score · 115,378 pop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ward County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
Yes - Ward County carries an MUA designation (index 58.3; 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 Ward County's peak score of 17.0?
"North Central Human Service Center" leads the active set (score 17.0; mental health; designated 07/09/2003). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 1 active rows: 0 primary care, 1 mental health, 0 dental.
What provider types does Ward County's severity cover?
Active rows break down 0 primary care / 1 mental health / 0 dental. Closing published gaps would take about 0 additional clinician FTEs on this release.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 38101. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) — 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 38101 (Ward County, ND), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 1; peak score 17.0; signature peak score 17.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.