Rural hospital survival: an analysis of facilities and services correlated with risk of closure

To test whether the facilities and services offered by rural hospitals can put them at risk of closure or protect against it, this study compares U.S. rural community hospitals that closed during the period 1980-1987, with a matched set of hospitals that remained open. Utilizing epidemiologic matched case-control methods and controlling for type of ownership, we found that (1) physical therapy, respiratory therapy, intensive care unit, computed tomography scanner, hospital auxiliary, and diagnostic radioisotope were negatively correlated with closure (i.e., had a protective effect); (2) the facilities and services correlated with risk of closure differed significantly between the pre-PPS (1980-1983) and post-PPS (1984-1987) periods; and (3) the presence of a skilled nursing or other long-term care unit was a significant risk factor during the period 1984-1987. Implications of these findings for hospital survival strategies and rural health care delivery under PPS are discussed.