Do rural hospitals lag behind urban hospitals in addressing community health needs? An analysis of recent trends in US community hospitals

Wanqing Zhang; Keith J Mueller; Li-Wu Chen

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1584.2009.01069.x

Back

Do rural hospitals lag behind urban hospitals in addressing community health needs? An analysis of recent trends in US community hospitals

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Do rural hospitals lag behind urban hospitals in addressing community health needs? An analysis of recent trends in US community hospitals

Wanqing Zhang, Keith J Mueller and Li-Wu Chen

The Australian journal of rural health, Vol.17(4), pp.183-188

08/2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2009.01069.x

PMID: 19664082

View Online

Abstract

This study examined whether rural and urban hospitals differ in their level of responsiveness to community health needs. This study used a multivariate, longitudinal research design. A cross-sectional survey was the setting for this study. The participants were rural or urban hospitals in the United States. The dependent variables were selected from the American Hospital Association hospital survey questions that are related to community health needs. The independent variable was rural or urban location. Rural hospitals improved more than urban hospitals in addressing community health needs from 1997 through 2006 for most of the indicators, especially in working with other providers to conduct a community health assessment. However, rural hospitals still lag significantly behind urban hospitals in tracking health information. This study suggests that rural hospitals do not lag behind urban hospitals in addressing community health needs. Further research is needed to understand the role of community hospitals in influencing local health delivery system activities regarding the potential community benefits and their impact on improving health of local populations.

Community Health Services - organization & administration

Community Health Services - statistics & numerical data

Community Health Services - trends

Hospitals, Rural - organization & administration

Hospitals, Rural - statistics & numerical data

Hospitals, Rural - trends

Hospitals, Urban - organization & administration

Hospitals, Urban - statistics & numerical data

Hospitals, Urban - trends

Humans

Longitudinal Studies

United States

Details

Title: Subtitle: Do rural hospitals lag behind urban hospitals in addressing community health needs? An analysis of recent trends in US community hospitals
Creators: Wanqing Zhang - Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, 984350 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-4350, USA. wazhang@unmc.edu
Keith J Mueller
Li-Wu Chen
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Australian journal of rural health, Vol.17(4), pp.183-188
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2009.01069.x
PMID: 19664082
ISSN: 1038-5282
eISSN: 1440-1584
Language: English
Date published: 08/2009
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984214698202771

Metrics

10 Record Views

4 Times Cited - Web of Science