Access implications of rural hospital closures and conversions

Article Abstract:

A study of Texas rural hospitals that were closed or converted from 1985 to 1990 determines that these closures or conversions had little adverse affect on the availability of medical care services. However, hospital bed and physician availability were limited in some areas. The study is the first to recognize that many rural hospital closures resulted in conversion to other forms of health care facilities that prevented a deterioration of services.

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Mortality rates as an indicator of hospital quality

Article Abstract:

Researchers determine that hospitals should use outlier status based on adjusted mortality rates as a screening tool but not as publicly available information on hospital quality. The findings show that major errors are likely to occur when predictions about underlying quality of care problems are based on overall mortality rates, even when case mix variation is accounted for.

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Rural hospital closures and access to services

Article Abstract:

A study has been made about 28 rural hospitals that closed in 1990 in order to evaluate how the closures affected travel time and distance to alternative facilities, and the availability or non-availability of specific medical services. Distance in miles and time spent to obtain services affected by the closures were established for specific illnesses or medical conditions.

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