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Hospitals in rural or remote areas: An exploratory review of policies in 8 high-income countries

Author

Listed:
  • Rechel, Bernd
  • Džakula, Aleksandar
  • Duran, Antonio
  • Fattore, Giovanni
  • Edwards, Nigel
  • Grignon, Michel
  • Haas, Marion
  • Habicht, Triin
  • Marchildon, Gregory P.
  • Moreno, Antonio
  • Ricciardi, Walter
  • Vaughan, Louella
  • Smith, Tina Anderson

Abstract

Our study reviewed policies in 8 high-income countries (Australia, Canada, United States, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Croatia and Estonia) in Europe, Australasia and North America with regard to hospitals in rural or remote areas. We explored whether any specific policies on hospitals in rural or remote areas are in place, and, if not, how countries made sure that the population in remote or rural areas has access to acute inpatient services. We found that only one of the eight countries (Italy) had drawn up a national policy on hospitals in rural or remote areas. In the United States, although there is no singular comprehensive national plan or vision, federal levers have been used to promote access in rural or remote areas and provide context for state and local policy decisions. In Australia and Canada, intermittent policies have been developed at the sub-national level of states and provinces respectively. In those countries where access to hospital services in rural or remote areas is a concern, common challenges can be identified, including the financial sustainability of services, the importance of medical education and telemedicine and the provision of quick transport to more specialized services.

Suggested Citation

  • Rechel, Bernd & Džakula, Aleksandar & Duran, Antonio & Fattore, Giovanni & Edwards, Nigel & Grignon, Michel & Haas, Marion & Habicht, Triin & Marchildon, Gregory P. & Moreno, Antonio & Ricciardi, Walt, 2016. "Hospitals in rural or remote areas: An exploratory review of policies in 8 high-income countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(7), pages 758-769.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:120:y:2016:i:7:p:758-769
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.05.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. World Bank, 2014. "Croatia Program-for-Results : Improving Quality and Efficiency of Health Services," World Bank Publications - Reports 20077, The World Bank Group.
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    3. Tatjana Fischer, 2021. "Understanding the Spatial-Related Abstraction of Public Health Impact Goals and Measures: Illustrated by the Example of the Austrian Action Plan on Women’s Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Voicu, Bogdan & Fărcășanu, Dana & Mustață, Mirela & Deliu, Alexandra & Vișinescu, Iulia, 2023. "Using laws, common sense, and statistical approaches to design indicators for ‘medical desertification’. An application on the Romanian case," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    5. Fangye Du & Jiaoe Wang & Haitao Jin, 2021. "Whether Public Hospital Reform Affects the Hospital Choices of Patients in Urban Areas: New Evidence from Smart Card Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    6. JiYeon Choi & Kyeongra Yang & Sang Hui Chu & Yoosik Youm & Hyeon Chang Kim & Yeong-Ran Park & Youn-Jung Son, 2020. "Social Activities and Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Older Adults in South Korea: A 4-Year Longitudinal Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Lubi, Kadi & Uibu, Marko & Koppel, Katre & Mets-Oja, Silja, 2020. "The rising impact of civic activism on health policy: The analysis of the closure of smaller obstetric units in Estonia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(11), pages 1239-1244.
    8. Rottemberg, Julieta & Ghasri, Milad & Grzybowska, Hanna & Dockery, Alfred M. & Waller, S. Travis, 2022. "Inequality and access to services for remote populations: An Australian case study," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    9. van de Bovenkamp, Hester & van Pijkeren, Nienke & Ree, Eline & Aase, Ingunn & Johannessen, Terese & Vollaard, Hans & Wallenburg, Iris & Bal, Roland & Wiig, Siri, 2023. "Creativity at the margins: A cross-country case study on how Dutch and Norwegian peripheries address challenges to quality work in care for older persons," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 66-73.
    10. Agnieszka Bem & Rafał Siedlecki & Paweł Prędkiewicz & Patrizia Gazzola & Bożena Ryszawska & Paulina Ucieklak-Jeż, 2019. "Hospitals’ Financial Health in Rural and Urban Areas in Poland: Does It Ensure Sustainability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, April.
    11. Dubas-Jakóbczyk, K. & Albreht, T. & Behmane, D. & Bryndova, L. & Dimova, A. & Džakula, A. & Habicht, T. & Murauskiene, L. & Scîntee, S.G. & Smatana, M. & Velkey, Z. & Quentin, W., 2020. "Hospital reforms in 11 Central and Eastern European countries between 2008 and 2019: a comparative analysis," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(4), pages 368-379.
    12. Polin, Katherine & Hjortland, Maximilien & Maresso, Anna & van Ginneken, Ewout & Busse, Reinhard & Quentin, Wilm, 2021. "“Top-Three” health reforms in 31 high-income countries in 2018 and 2019: an expert informed overview," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(7), pages 815-832.

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