Burke County Profile
Targeted evidence for equitable care access
The Current Landscape
Healthcare access in Burke County is shaped by its vast rural geography in the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) and its proximity to the Augusta (Richmond County) medical hub. While the county is home to Burke Health, residents frequently travel outside the county for advanced specialty and trauma services. This out-migration, compounded by a high patient-to-provider ratio, creates strain on local resources and presents severe hurdles for those lacking reliable transportation.
To drive policy change, we evaluate Burke County's data through SAPHL's three action areas: protecting rural infrastructure, empowering diverse professionals, and addressing non-medical social drivers.
Primary Care HPSA Score
A Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score measures the severity of a primary care provider shortage in a community on a scale from 0 to 25. A higher score reflects a greater need. Burke County's score of 16 indicates a severe, pressing shortage of primary care professionals, establishing it as a priority zone for state healthcare workforce expansion and retention incentives.
Protecting our regional health infrastructure
With localized hospital capacity focused on specific service lines, expanding the reach of safety-net clinics, telehealth access, and robust EMS services is critical to minimizing preventable emergencies and reducing the travel burden on rural residents.
Empowering diverse care professionals
Burke County faces a staggering shortage of in-county physicians relative to its population size. Maximizing the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and local pharmacists is vital to bridging this gap.
Addressing social drivers to access
The reality of seeking care is influenced by external, non-medical factors. Broadband limitations, expansive geographic barriers, and out-of-pocket costs dictate how effectively residents connect with the health system.
Deep Dive: Local Drivers
Clinical care availability is only one piece of the puzzle. In Burke County, specific local determinants heavily influence a resident's ability to seek, afford, and receive timely healthcare.
Relying on Augusta Hubs
With most advanced specialty and trauma care consolidated in neighboring Augusta (Richmond County), residents across Burke County's vast rural geography face immense transit hurdles. Missing a ride often means missing preventative care altogether, shifting routine issues into emergency crises.