Adjusting measures of physician availability to reflect importation of physician services into rural areas.
Recent changes in the organization and delivery of physician services in rural areas suggest the need to update how physician availability is viewed and measured. The objective of this study was to empirically examine the effect of rural hospitals contracting with outside physicians for part or all of their emergency room coverage, and the use of urban specialists to staff outpatient clinics, on measures used to assess physician availability. Based on data from one rural state, the findings demonstrate the importance of adjusting for the importation of physician services into rural areas.
Wakefield
D S
DS
Graduate Program in Hospital and Health Administration, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Tracy
R
R
D003284:Contract Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D019035:Rural Health Services; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce