Abstract
Healthcare Service Point Accessibility: Challenges of Conceptualization and Modeling
Track: Health and Human Services
Author(s): Mark Guagliardo
The concept of service area, or catchment area is the geographic foundation for most studies of access to care. With this approach service area borders are drawn around facility locations according to where patients obtain care. This geography is suitable for studying health system-focused topics such as patient origin and travel distance, or demographic profile of catchment area. However, because only those who use the services are georeferenced this geography is not suitable for tasks such as identifying areas of unmet need, or determining the best location for new service delivery points. A geographic approach that takes into consideration the location of all persons, not just service users, is needed. We describe the pros and cons of the two approaches in the context of the Veterans Health Administration system, discuss the challenges of the population-based approach, and make recommendations for future studies that will support that approach.
Mark Guagliardo
Veterans Health Administration
810 Vermont Ave, NW
Mail Stop 10A5
Washington , District of Columbia 20420
United States
Phone: 202-461-7118
E-mail: mark.guagliardo@va.gov