Journal article
Availability of hospital-based cancer services before and after rural hospital closure, 2008-2017
The Journal of rural health, Vol.39(2), pp.416-425
Spring 2023
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12716
PMID: 36128753
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rural populations have less access to cancer care services and experience higher cancer mortality rates than their urban counterparts, which may be exacerbated by hospital closures. Our objective was to examine the impact of hospital closures on access to cancer-relevant hospital services across hospital service areas (HSAs). METHODS We used American Hospital Association survey data from 2008 to 2017 to examine the change in access to cancer-related screening and treatment services across rural HSAs that sustained hospitals over time, experienced any closures, or had all hospitals close. We performed a longitudinal analysis to assess the association between hospital closure occurrence and maintenance or loss of cancer-related service lines accounting for hospital and HSA-level characteristics. Maps were also developed to display changes in the availability of services across HSAs. RESULTS Of the 2,014 rural HSAs, 3.8% experienced at least 1 hospital closure during the study period, most occurring in the South. Among HSAs that experienced hospital closure, the loss of surgery services lines was most common, while hospital closures did not affect the availability of overall oncology and radiation services. Screening services either were stable (mammography) or increased (endoscopy) in areas with no closures. DISCUSSION Rural areas persistently experience less access to cancer treatment services, which has been exacerbated by hospital closures. Lack of Medicaid expansion in many Southern states and other policy impacts on hospital financial viability may play a role in this. Future research should explore the impact of closures on cancer treatment receipt and outcomes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Availability of hospital-based cancer services before and after rural hospital closure, 2008-2017
- Creators
- Whitney E Zahnd - University of IowaPeiyin Hung - University of South CarolinaSylvia Kewei ShiAnja Zgodic - University of South CarolinaMelinda A Merrell - University of South CarolinaElizabeth L Crouch - University of South CarolinaJanice C Probst - University of South CarolinaJan M Eberth - University of South Carolina
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of rural health, Vol.39(2), pp.416-425
- DOI
- 10.1111/jrh.12716
- PMID
- 36128753
- NLM abbreviation
- J Rural Health
- ISSN
- 0890-765X
- eISSN
- 1748-0361
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100010001, name: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, award: U1CRH30539
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/21/2022
- Date published season
- Spring 2023
- Date published
- 2023
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Record Identifier
- 9984297660202771
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