Abstract
This study examines the relationship between rurality as well as the proportion of non-physician clinicians and county rates
of ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations (ACSHs) for pediatric, adult and elderly populations in Nebraska. The study
design was a cross-sectional observational study of county level factors that affect the county level rates of ACSHs using
Poisson regression models. Rural (non-metro) counties have significantly higher ACSHs for both pediatric and adult population,
but not for the elderly. Frontier counties have significantly higher adult ACSHs. The proportion of primary care providers
who are non-physician clinicians does not have a significant association with ACSHs for any of the age groups. The results
indicate that rurality may have a greater impact on pediatric and adult ACSHs and the proportion of NPCs in the primary care
provider workforce does not significantly impact ACSH rates.
of ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations (ACSHs) for pediatric, adult and elderly populations in Nebraska. The study
design was a cross-sectional observational study of county level factors that affect the county level rates of ACSHs using
Poisson regression models. Rural (non-metro) counties have significantly higher ACSHs for both pediatric and adult population,
but not for the elderly. Frontier counties have significantly higher adult ACSHs. The proportion of primary care providers
who are non-physician clinicians does not have a significant association with ACSHs for any of the age groups. The results
indicate that rurality may have a greater impact on pediatric and adult ACSHs and the proportion of NPCs in the primary care
provider workforce does not significantly impact ACSH rates.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-011-9468-1
- Authors
- Preethy Nayar, Health Services Research and Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350, USA
- Anh T. Nguyen, Health Services Research and Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350, USA
- Bettye Apenteng, Health Services Research and Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350, USA
- Fang Yu, Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984375 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4375, USA
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145