title: Trends in the utilization of specific health care services among older Manitobans: 1985 to 2000.
abstract: This paper examines 16-year trends in the utilization of hospital and physician services by Manitobans aged 75 and more, using data from the Manitoba Population Health Research Data Repository. Trends are examined across five measures of hospital services (separations, short-stay days, long-stay days, cataract surgeries, and hip/knee replacements) and two measures of physician care (overall visit rate, and proportion having seven or more visits). Results show changes in the utilization of these services among older adults living in Manitoba over time, with the extent of change varying with the service under consideration, age, and location of residence. Previously large utilization differentials are shown to be shrinking; for example, cataract surgery rates across regions and physician visit rates by age. For other services, such as the rates of hip or knee replacement surgery, the differences across regions are increasing. Findings indicate that global generalizations about the impact of older adults on the health care system are subject to question, as regional differences and differences between age groups (75-84, 85+) can be significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612-7250, USA. marciaf@uic.edu
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lix
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors