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

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

Health Policy, 2016, vol. 120, issue 7, 758-769

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.

Keywords: Hospitals; Rural hospitals; Rural health services; Emergencies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:120:y:2016:i:7:p:758-769

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.05.011

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