Rural Health Research: Rural Hospitals and the Local Economy: A Needed Extension and Refinement of Existing Empirical Research

Abstract

The relationship between the health care sector and the rural economy is of increasing importance. Much additional research is needed to fully understand this relationship and to address some of the limitations of the modest amount of research that already exists. In this study, data from Nebraska were used to create a four-part typology of rural hospitals. Input-output analysis was used to assess the economic effects of each type of hospital on the local economy and to simulate the effects of three different changes or scenarios: an increase or decrease in hospital utilization; the elimination of local purchases of nonlabor inputs; and a change in the mix or configuration of services provided. While the hospital is an important contributor to local economies, this contribution is not constant across hospital types. The total job-related effects ranged from 77 jobs for the smallest type of rural hospital to 1,332 for the largest type. Service and trade (retail plus wholesale) are the two sectors of the local economy most heavily influenced by the presence of a hospital. In today's changing and challenging environment, there is a great need for researchers to create and evaluate the economic effects of a variety of relevant and realistic scenarios (other than hospital closure).

The Effect of Rural Hospital Closures on Community Economic Health

“…Similar conclusions were reached using data from three Texas communities (Doeksen, Loewen, and Strawn 1990). Cordes et al (1999) extended the literature by examining the role of the hospital in the economy and differentiating hospitals by bed size. They found that the estimated economic multipliers increased in magnitude with hospital bed size, but did not specifically estimate the effect of closure using I/O analysis.…”

A Survey of General Surgeons in Rural Missouri: Potential for Rapid Decrease in Work Force

“…Loss of general surgical care for trauma and common surgical emergencies could result in worse outcomes in more rural areas. In addition, the loss of revenue from general surgery may threaten the financial viability of struggling rural hospitals, with significant health and economic implications for the local community (Cordes, et al, 1999).…”

Роль І Функція Лікарень (Аналітичнийй Огляд Літератури)

“…˳êàðí³ òðåòüîãî ð³âíÿ ìîaeóòü áóòè ÿê çàãàëüíîãî ïðîô³ëþ (îáºäíóâàòè ïåâíó ê³ëüê³ñòü ñïåö³àëüíîñòåé), òàê ³ ñïåö³àë³çîâàí³ (îáñëóãîâóâàòè òó ÷è ³íøó ãðóïó íàñåëåííÿ, ñïåö³àë³çóâàòèñÿ íà òèõ ÷è ³íøèõ çàõâîðþâàííÿõ ÷è ìåòîäàõ ë³êóâàííÿ) [34;39]. Áàãàòî àâòîð³â âèêëþ÷í³ñòü âêàçàíèõ ôóíêö³é ë³êàðåíü òðåòèííîãî ð³âíÿ ñòàâëÿòü ï³ä ñóìí³â [50].…”