A comparison of financial performance, organizational characteristics and management strategy among rural and urban nursing facilities.
Despite efforts to deinstitutionalize long-term care, it is estimated that 43 percent of the elderly will use a nursing facility at some point. Whether sufficient nursing facility services will be available to rural elderly is debatable due to cutbacks in governmental expenditures and recent financial losses among nursing facilities. This paper explores the challenges confronting rural nursing facilities in maintaining their viability and strategies that might be considered to improve their longevity. A comparative analysis of 18 urban and 34 rural nursing facilities in New Mexico is used in identifying promising strategic adaptations available to rural facilities. Among other considerations, rural facilities should strive to enhance revenue streams, implement strict cost control measures, emphasize broader promotional tactics, and diversify services commensurate with the constraints of the communities and populations served.
Smith
H L
HL
Anderson School of Management, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.
Piland
N F
NF
Fisher
N
N
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005376:Financial Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006270:Health Facility Administrators; D006302:Health Services Research; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009516:New Mexico; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011357:Product Line Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data