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Rural-urban otolaryngologic observational workforce analysis: The state of Nebraska
Frantzlee LaCrete1, Kendra L Ratnapradipa2, Kristy Carlson3
1Department of Otolaryngology University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas USA.
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
|December 22, 2023
Summary
Rural Nebraskans face significant barriers accessing otolaryngology (OHNS) care, traveling 5.5 times farther than urban residents. Over half of Nebraska counties lack OHNS clinics, highlighting a critical rural healthcare gap.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Access and Rural Health Disparities
- Otolaryngology (OHNS) Services
- Public Health and Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Nebraska's population distribution shows significant rural coverage across two-thirds of its land area.
- Access to specialized medical care, such as otolaryngology (OHNS), is unevenly distributed across the state.
- A substantial portion of Nebraska counties lack any OHNS clinic presence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the disparities in access to otolaryngology (OHNS) care between rural and urban populations in Nebraska.
- To quantify the travel burden for Nebraskans seeking otolaryngology services based on geographic location.
- To identify areas with limited or no access to OHNS specialists within the state.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed using county-level data from Nebraska.
- Counties were classified as rural or urban using the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) urban-rural classification scheme.
- Otolaryngologist locations were identified, and travel burden was calculated by estimating the weighted average distance from county centroids to the nearest OHNS clinic.
Main Results:
- More than half (54.8%) of Nebraska counties do not have any otolaryngology (OHNS) clinics.
- A statistically significant difference in the mean number of OHNS providers per 100,000 population exists between rural and urban areas.
- Rural residents in Level V counties travel an average of 29.94 linear miles to reach an OHNS clinic, compared to 5.17 miles for those in Level III counties.
Conclusions:
- A significant discrepancy in otolaryngology (OHNS) care access exists between rural and urban populations in Nebraska.
- Rural Nebraskans experience a substantially higher travel burden, traveling at least 5.5 times farther for OHNS care compared to their urban counterparts.
- The findings underscore the need for strategies to improve equitable access to otolaryngology services in rural Nebraska.
