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The Effect of Rural Hospital Closures on Community Economic Health
Author(s) -
Holmes George M.,
Slifkin Rebecca T.,
Randolph Randy K.,
Poley Stephanie
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2005.00497.x
Subject(s) - closure (psychology) , unemployment , per capita , recession , per capita income , sample (material) , demographic economics , census , health care , demography , medicine , economics , economic growth , population , environmental health , sociology , chemistry , chromatography , keynesian economics , market economy
Objective. To examine the effect of rural hospital closures on the local economy. Data Sources. U.S. Census Bureau, OSCAR, Medicare Cost Reports, and surveys of individuals knowledgeable about local hospital closures. Study Design. Economic data at the county level for 1990–2000 were combined with information on hospital closures. The study sample was restricted to rural counties experiencing a closure during the sample period. Longitudinal regression methods were used to estimate the effect of hospital closure on per‐capita income, unemployment rate, and other community economic measures. Models included both leading and lagged closure terms allowing a preclosure economic downturn as well as time for the closure to be fully realized by the community. Data Collection. Information on closures was collected by contacting every state hospital association, reconciling information gathered with that contained in the American Hospital Association file and OIG reports. Principal Findings. Results indicate that the closure of the sole hospital in the community reduces per‐capita income by $703 ( p <0.05) or 4 percent ( p <0.05) and increases the unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points ( p <0.01). Closures in communities with alternative sources of hospital care had no long‐term economic impact, although income decreased for 2 years following the closure. Conclusions. The local economic effects of a hospital closure should be considered when regulations that affect hospitals' financial well‐being are designed or changed.