Modeling Inter-Regional Patient Mobility: Does Distance Go Far Enough?

Abstract

This paper estimates a theory-guided gravity equation of regional patient flows. In our model, a patient's choice to consult a physician in a particular region depends on a measure of spatial accessibility that accounts for the exact locations of both patients and physicians. Introducing this concept in a spatial economics model, we derive an augmented gravity-type equation and show that our measure of accessibility performs better in explaining patient flows than bilateral distance. We conduct a rich set of counterfactual simulations, illustrating that the effects of physicians' market exits on patient mobility crucially depend on their exact locations.

The Hospital Emigration to Another Region in the Light of the Environmental, Social and Governance Model in Italy During the Period 2004-2021

“…These motivations are common in a comparative study of the USA, Mexico and Europe [22]. Location of physicians can have a relevant role in determining patent mobility [23]. There is a positive relationship between patent mobility and the reduction of waiting times [24].…”

The hospital emigration to another region in the light of the environmental, social and governance model in Italy during the period 2004-2021

“…These motivations are common in a comparative study of the USA, Mexico and Europe [ 63 ]. Location of physicians can have a relevant role in determining patent mobility [ 59 ]. There is a positive relationship between patent mobility and the reduction of waiting times [ 14 ].…”

Vaccine‐skeptic physicians and patient vaccination decisions

“…Many of these physicians are general practitioners (GPs) located in rural areas where the network of GPs is relatively sparse. Thus, the match between patients and GPs primarily results from geographic proximity (Irlacher et al., 2023).…”