Mapping Access to Children’s Hospitals in Texas

Shadi Maleki (), Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo, Elizabeth Ekren, Milad Mohammadalizadehkorde and Melinda Villagran
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Shadi Maleki: Translational Health Research Center, Texas State University, 151 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo: Alkek One, University Libraries, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Elizabeth Ekren: Translational Health Research Center, Texas State University, 151 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Milad Mohammadalizadehkorde: Transportation and Public Works Department, City of Austin, 901 South Mopac, Austin, TX 78746, USA
Melinda Villagran: Translational Health Research Center, Texas State University, 151 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Vehicle access, travel time, and distance to hospitals and emergency rooms with sufficient patient beds are critical healthcare accessibility measures, especially for children who require specific pediatric services. In a large state like Texas with vast rural areas and limited public transit infrastructure, 75% of the children live over an hour from the closest facility that provides pediatric emergency services or specialty care. In view of this challenge, this study first sought to map the prevailing geographical accessibility to children’s hospitals and, second, to model the hospital beds per capita for each hospital’s service area within the state of Texas. The results showed disparities in accessing emergency pediatric care, especially in rural areas. However, despite major metro areas recording better geographical accessibility to pediatric healthcare, residents in these areas may experience limited hospital bed availability. The findings indicate an urgent need for more pediatric healthcare services in rural Texas. Given the increasing population growth in metro areas and their surroundings, there is also a need for the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in these areas.

Keywords: spatial accessibility; children’s hospitals; children’s healthcare; Texas; healthcare access; hospital beds; pediatric emergency; healthcare accessibility; rural health; pediatric healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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