The implications of urban social and economic realities on strategic management of hospitals.
As Ontario embarks on restructuring its health care system and realigning resources to meet population-based needs, health care providers and planning agencies need to link epidemiological data (a community's socioeconomic, demographics and health status) and assess its implications on hospital utilization trends. A fundamental challenge for hospitals and other providers is to "know their communities" along these lines. This article summarizes the results of a multidimensional review of a section of a large urban community and integrates it with utilization of acute inpatient beds. General observations are offered for policy makers and hospital management.
Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
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Shah
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Vatieri
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors