Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Modelling catchment areas for secondary care providers: a case study.
Simon Jones1, Jessica Wardlaw, Susan Crouch
1Centre for Workforce Intelligence, London, UK. simon.jones@cfwi.org.uk
Health Care Management Science
|April 2, 2011
Summary
Understanding patient flow is crucial for hospitals. This study compares three methods for defining hospital catchment areas, finding the Proportional Flow method optimal for most applications due to its accuracy and accessibility.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Geographic Information Systems in Healthcare
- Health Economics
Background:
- Hospitals require accurate patient flow data for strategic planning in a competitive healthcare market.
- Existing methods for defining hospital catchment areas (administrative boundaries, drive times) are inadequate.
- New healthcare policies necessitate improved understanding of patient demographics and geographic access to services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare three distinct methods for defining hospital catchment areas and populations.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different modeling approaches for understanding patient flows.
- To identify the most suitable method for secondary care providers (SCPs) and primary care trusts (PCTs).
Main Methods:
- 'First Past the Post' method: Allocates each Census Output Area (OA) to the dominant secondary care provider (SCP) based on patient activity.
- 'Proportional Flow' method: Distributes patient activity from each OA proportionally among SCPs, capturing cross-boundary flows.
- Gravity model: Incorporates drive or travel time into the catchment area definition, offering greater detail.
Main Results:
- The gravity model provided necessary detail for planning a new hospital but is complex.
- The Proportional Flow method demonstrated the smallest Root Mean Square (RMS) error and effectively handled cross-boundary patient flows.
- Proportional Flow utilizes readily available data, is simpler to reproduce than the gravity model, and proved optimal for most Manchester case study applications.
Conclusions:
- The Proportional Flow method offers a practical and accurate approach for defining catchment populations for most healthcare applications.
- Further research is needed to refine the Proportional Flow method for service redesign and low-activity areas.
- Wider implementation of the Proportional Flow method across England, with further data granularity, is recommended.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Secondary Healthcare System
Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:21Tertiary Healthcare System
Specialized care provided over an extended period is called tertiary care. Usually, a primary or secondary care physician will refer a patient to tertiary care. A patient's maximum physical and mental function is restored in tertiary care, which is caused due to the impact of a chronic illness or condition. Tertiary care aims to achieve the highest level of functioning possible while managing chronic illness. For example, a patient who falls and fractures their hip will need secondary care to...
01:17Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...