Evaluating Michigan's Community Hospital Access
Author Information
Author(s): Joseph P. Messina, Ashton M. Shortridge, Richard E. Groop, Pariwate Varnak, Mark J. Finn
Primary Institution: Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
Hypothesis
How can spatial analyses be employed to develop a revised community hospital approval procedure in Michigan?
Conclusion
The study identified under-served areas in Michigan and provided policymakers with tools to make informed decisions about hospital placements.
Supporting Evidence
- Two areas were identified as under-served based on access-based modeling.
- 1,887 beds per day were demanded by areas more than 16.1 kilometers from the nearest hospital.
- Using a 32.3 kilometer radius, unmet demand dropped to 160 beds per day.
Takeaway
The researchers looked at where hospitals are in Michigan and found some areas that need more hospitals to help people get care faster.
Methodology
The study used access-based and demand-based models to analyze hospital access and demand across Michigan.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on ZIP code centroids and the assumptions made in the models.
Limitations
The models may not account for all private roads and the complexity of patient choices in hospital selection.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on the population distribution across Michigan, particularly in urban and rural areas.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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