The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Workforce designates an area, population, or facility experiencing a shortage of health care services, as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). There are different types of designations which are renewed annually through an online application process called the Shortage Designation Management System.

In Delaware, the State of Delaware, Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Office of Primary Care and Rural Health coordinates the annual application process for in-state HPSA designations. HRSA reviews each application with a keen focus on an extensive host of data points, such as; provider practice location, population served, clinical hours dedicated to patient population, environment mapping data, demographic data, health-related data, and Uniform Data System measures.

A HPSA classification and score are generated after the assessment. HPSA classifications can be Behavioral/Mental Health, Dental, or Primary Care. HPSA scores can range from zero (0) to twenty-six (26) depending on population to provider ratio, the Federal Poverty Level, and commute to the nearest healthcare provider.

Provider offices interested in applying for federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation must contact the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health for further details.

Nichole Moxley, Director
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Health, Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
417 Federal Street, Jesse Cooper Building, Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 744–4555
Nichole.Moxley@Delaware.Gov

The Health Workforce Subcommittee works to eliminate redundancy in statewide efforts, identify credible sources for data collection and utilize measures, and recommend policy changes to support improved access to high-quality and affordable healthcare in Delaware.

Organizations combating disparities and/or catapulting health workforce development and education into the future are invited to present at subcommittee meetings. Contact us by email DHCC@Delaware.Gov or call (302) 255-4750 to reserve time on a future meeting agenda.

Healthcare organizations interested in adding their website to this list should contact DHCC@Delaware.Gov with a direct link to the careers page.

Hospitals

• Bayhealth
• Beebe Healthcare
• ChristianaCare
• Nemours Children’s Health System
• Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic / Saint Francis Hospital
• TidalHealth / Nanticoke

Behavioral Health

• Delaware Behavioral Health
• Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc.
• Dover Behavioral Health System
• MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital
• Mental Health Association in Delaware
• Mid-Atlantic Behavioral Health
• New Behavior Network
• SUN Behavioral Health

The Delaware Health Workforce Subcommittee collaborates with private and non-profit healthcare organizations to meet workforce shortage challenges head-on. Key goals are to:

• Anticipate critical needs by healthcare specialty and geographic location
• Assess specialized competencies and categories of healthcare practitioners
• Improve recruitment, deployment, retention, motivation and performance of health workers.

With no in-state dental or medical school, Delaware relies on contractual agreements with nationally accredited schools outside of the state to provide access to high-quality dental and medical education for its residents. Through the DIDER and DIMER programs, Delaware reserves 136 academic seats annually for students with verifiable proof of Delaware-based lineage and/or residency. The DIDER/DIMER advantage allows Delaware applicants to compete with other applicants from Delaware, instead of tens of thousands of applicants in the national pool.

• Delaware Academy of Medicine / Delaware Public Health Association – interest-free loan and repayment programs are available to students. The loan repayment period starts one year after the graduation. Repayment plans are only available to students who have not received loans from the Academy prior to 2016.
• Delaware Community Foundation – students from Delaware are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships: Beekhuis Scholarship, Margaret L. Richey Scholarship, Margaret A. Stafford Nursing Scholarship, Eleanor B. and Henry H. Stroud, M.D. Memorial Scholarship, Mark B. Holzman Scholarship, etc.
• Delaware State University – tuition, fees, grants, loans, scholarships and work study employment.
• Delaware Technical and Community College – tuition and fees.
  • Scholarships
• State of Delaware, Department of Education – the Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP) is designed for full-time students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program not offered by universities or colleges in Delaware.
  • Federal Student Aid – free application for Federal Student Aid (FSFSA).
  • Undergraduate Financial Scholarships – Nursing Incentive Program and general scholarship awards.
  • Graduate Financial Scholarships – Optometry Incentive Program and Speech/Language Pathologist Incentive Program.
  • Delaware Student Success, Scholarship Compendium – this is a guide for Delaware students looking for scholarships and programs to offset the cost of college. Scholarships are available for all students, not just for those who receive good grades.
• University of Delaware – general tuition and scholarship information.
  • Honors Scholarship Information
  • Private Lending for Higher Education
• Wilmington University – tuition and fees
  • Scholarships

2025

2024