Using Physicians’ Affiliations to Build Hospital Networks: Local Clustering and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bruno Wichmann () and Roberta Moreira Wichmann
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Bruno Wichmann: University of Alberta
Roberta Moreira Wichmann: Brazilian Institute of Education, Development and Research–IDP

Networks and Spatial Economics, 2025, vol. 25, issue 3, No 3, 613-633

Abstract: Abstract The paper studies hospital networks where edges represent physicians’ affiliated with multiple hospitals. Using data from the universe of hospitals in the Brazilian healthcare system (n = 7,837) and their corresponding physicians (n = 623,680), we calculate local clustering using monthly variation from January 2016 to December 2023. We estimate network disruptions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing local clustering before and after the pandemic. The pandemic caused local connectivity disruptions in neighborhoods where triads are more likely formed under light physician flow. Heavy flow neighborhoods displayed resilience to the pandemic and connectivity was largely unaffected.

Keywords: Local Clustering; Triads; Weighted Networks; Physicians; COVID-19; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11067-025-09667-1

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