Modeling Hospital Catchments in Rural Areas
Author Information
Author(s): Nadine Schuurman, Robert Fiedler, Stefan Grzybowski, Darrin Grund
Primary Institution: Simon Fraser University
Hypothesis
Can travel-time based modeling improve the definition of hospital catchments in rural areas?
Conclusion
The modeling tool is effective for defining geographical catchments around rural hospitals and assessing the population served within specific travel times.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found that using travel-time models provides a more accurate representation of healthcare access than traditional methods.
- Approximately 70% of British Columbia's population lives on just 1.3% of the land, highlighting the challenges of healthcare access in rural areas.
- The research demonstrated that specific healthcare service scenarios can reveal significant differences in geographic access.
Takeaway
This study helps figure out how far people in rural areas have to travel to get to hospitals, which is important for making sure everyone can get the healthcare they need.
Methodology
The study used vector-based GIS network analysis to model hospital catchments based on travel time.
Limitations
The study does not account for socioeconomic factors affecting healthcare access.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on the population of the Interior Health Authority in British Columbia, which is approximately 655,000 people.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website