Medical access in Lares
Lares has 12 verified specialists in the federal registry for 27,867 residents: 4.3 per 10,000. The island median is 4.9.
Called several offices and nobody called you back? Or called and the number no longer exists?
It is not that you are doing something wrong. The federal government already measured what is happening to you in Lares: 2 official shortage designations (dental health, 26 of 25 points; mental health, 21 of 25 points). What you are living has a name, a number, and a date. Here it is, in plain language.
🏛️ The federal government already recognized the shortage here
Lares has 2 active federal provider-shortage designations (HPSA): dental health (score 26/25) · mental health (score 21/25). That is not our opinion: it is HRSA, the federal health agency. What that means and the money it brings →
The numbers that do not add up (until you see the third one)
The official record and what you see, side by side. Neither one is lying; they measure different things. The line below each card explains which.
Lares has 6 dentists in the federal registry.
And it is still a federal dental shortage area: 26 of 25 points, among the highest scores there are.
How can both be true? The designation measures access for the low-income population: 20,725 people per available dentist for that group. There are dentists. What is missing is an appointment for those on the government plan.
1 psychiatrist and 9 psychologists in the registry.
For the low-income population, the federal count comes to people per available mental health provider.
The designation measures outpatient appointments available to low-income patients, not total offices. That is why the federal number and the list above can say different things and both be true.
⚠️ And a detail almost nobody knows: the federal government does not remove anyone from the registry on its own. When a doctor or dentist retires, moves, or closes the office, it is on them to take themselves out of the system, and many never do. That is why these counts are a ceiling, not a floor: the real shortage can be worse than the number says. And it is why people call an office "in the registry" and find it already closed. Every name below links its federal NPI so you can confirm before making the trip.
The diagnosis already comes with money
This information was always public. It was scattered across four federal databases, in English. We just gathered it and put it in plain language.
What almost nobody knows: a shortage designation is not just a diagnosis. It is a key. It unlocks real federal money:
- 💵A psychologist, counselor, clinical social worker, or psychiatrist practicing here can qualify for the federal government to repay up to $50,000 of their student loans (National Health Service Corps, 2 years of service).
- 💵A dentist or dental hygienist, the same: up to $50,000, and Lares's 26/25 score competes near the top of the priority list.
The problem is already recognized and funded. What is missing is not a diagnosis. It is more professionals knowing the key exists.
Are you a health professional? See if your site qualifies: nhsc.hrsa.gov · FY2026 cycle figures (HRSA), verified Jul 2026.
What Lares HAS
Tap any to see the full list with names and phone numbers.
Full directory of Lares
Every name by category, alphabetical. Tap one for their profile, phone, and the link to verify their NPI in the federal registry.
🏘️ Community Health Center (FQHC) 3
🦷 Dentist 6
🫘 Dialysis Center 1
🥗 Dietitian / Nutritionist 2
👨👩👧 Family Medicine 11
- Alberto Angulo Johnson Call
- Elisa Del Socorro Cruz-Arrigoitia Call
- Fernando Echeandia Fuster Call
- Hector L. Rivera-Rivera Call
- Higinio A. Vega-Ojeda Call
- Jose O Rodriguez-Ramos Call
- Jose R. Rivera-Toledo Call
- Nelki Brunilda Rivera Acosta Call
- Ramon Francisco Echeandia Call
- Shirley Ramos Call
- Yadira Rodriguez Cruz Call
🏠 Home Health Agency 2
🕊️ Hospice 1
🦠 Infectious Disease 1
🩺 Internal Medicine 3
🖐️ Occupational Therapist 2
🧒 Pediatrician 1
💊 Pharmacist 25
- Alba Ramirez Vargas Call
- Andrea A Acevedo Villanueva Call
- Awilda Bayon Call
- Catherine Rose Cuevas Call
- Eileen Santiago Call
- Francisco Javier Javier Jimenez Ramirez Call
- Frankie Gelabert Call
- Ileana Marys Lopez Call
- Ileana Velez Call
- Irazema Gonzalez Mahiquez Call
- Jeniffer Guzman Call
- Jomuel Ramos Call
- Jorge Luis Acevedo Call
- Jose A. Romero Carrero Call
- Kristal Negroni Gonzalez Call
- Lourdes Ramirez Acevedo Call
- Luz Miriam Velez Roman Call
- Lymari Torres Call
- Mayra Velez Call
- Monica Collazo Call
- Nector Luis Soto Call
- Pedro Luis Soto Call
- Reyniel Romero Perez Call
- Rigoberto Gonzalez Perez Call
- Rosa Wilma Ramirez Acevedo Call
🏃 Physical Therapist 4
🩺 Physician Assistant (PA) 1
💬 Professional Counselor 2
🧠 Psychiatrist 1
🧠 Psychologist 9
🗣️ Speech-Language Pathologist 8
⏱️ Urgent Care 1
What is MISSING (and where the nearest one is)
Of the most sought-after specialists, these have no verified practice in Lares:
- ✗❤️ Cardiologist: none verified here; the Oeste region has 27 →
- ✗🤰 OB-GYN: none verified here; the Oeste region has 14 →
- ✗👵 Geriatrician: none verified here; the Oeste region has 5 →
- ✗🫁 Pulmonologist (Lungs): none verified here; the Oeste region has 15 →
- ✗🩺 Endocrinologist (Diabetes): none verified here; the Oeste region has 17 →
- ✗🎗️ Oncologist / Hematologist: none verified here; the Oeste region has 12 →
- ✗🧠 Neurologist: none verified here; the Oeste region has 17 →
- ✗🩺 Gastroenterologist: none verified here; the Oeste region has 20 →
A specialist missing from town is not always a crisis: what matters is how far the nearest one is and whether the appointment comes in time. That is why each gap shows where they DO exist.
📋 Citable facts about Lares
For press, mayors, school papers, or Facebook arguments: copy the fact with the source attached.
Lares has 12 verified medical specialists for 27,867 residents: 4.3 per 10,000. Rank 36 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities (median: 4.9).
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/lares
Lares has 1 verified psychiatrist. In Puerto Rico, 36 municipalities have none.
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/lares
Lares has no verified practice of: Cardiologist, OB-GYN, Geriatrician, Pulmonologist (Lungs), Endocrinologist (Diabetes), Oncologist / Hematologist, Neurologist, Gastroenterologist.
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/lares
Lares has an active federal shortage designation (HPSA) for dental health (score 26/25, 20,725 low-income residents per provider) and mental health (score 21/25), per HRSA.
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/lares
Lares's HPSA designation unlocks federal NHSC loan repayment: up to $50,000 per 2 years for dental health and mental health providers serving the designated area (HRSA, FY2026 cycle).
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/lares
🔔 I will let you know when a new one arrives in Lares
When a new specialist shows up verified in the federal registry for this town, I will email you. That is it. No spam, no marketing list.
📤 Pásalo a quien le toca
To the hometown or family group chat. Everyone checks their own.
Looking for a specialist now?
Search by specialty and region, or tell me your situation and I will give you the steps.
One important thing, neighbor to neighbor
This is not a substitute for medical advice. We verify public data, but phone numbers, health plans, and availability change. Before you go, call and confirm.
Spotted outdated info? Tell us and we fix it: angel@angelanderson.com