Robeson County Profile
Targeted evidence for equitable care access
The Current Landscape
Healthcare access in Robeson County is shaped by its expansive geography in southeastern North Carolina and its rich cultural heritage as the home of the Lumbee Tribe. While the county is anchored by UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton, residents in more remote rural pockets frequently face transportation barriers to access specialized or advanced care. This spatial disparity, compounded by significant regional primary care shortages, creates severe hurdles for those lacking reliable transportation.
To drive policy change, we evaluate Robeson County's data through 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. Robeson County's score of 19 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
Robeson County faces a significant shortage of primary care 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 Robeson County, specific local determinants heavily influence a resident's ability to seek, afford, and receive timely healthcare.
Relying on Lumberton and Fayetteville Hubs
With most advanced specialty and trauma care consolidated in Lumberton or neighboring hubs like Fayetteville, residents across Robeson County's expansive geography face immense transit hurdles. Missing a ride often means missing preventative care altogether, shifting routine issues into emergency crises.