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Analysing access to nursing home care.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Access to nursing home care is influenced by patient flow, not just bed availability. Understanding nursing home use can help redistribute resources effectively in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Measuring access to nursing home care presents methodological challenges.
- Nursing home utilization varies across different countries and patient demographics.
- Understanding patient flow is crucial for assessing healthcare system efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate access to nursing home care in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
- To examine patterns and differences in nursing home utilization among these countries.
- To explore the implications of nursing home use for resource distribution.
Main Methods:
- Review of methodological considerations for measuring access to nursing home care.
- Analysis of patient turnover patterns, including aggregate rates, length of stay, and outcomes.
- Comparison of demographic and morbidity characteristics of patient groups and their nursing home use.
Main Results:
- Patient turnover rate is a significant determinant of nursing home access, comparable to bed provision levels.
- Differences in nursing home use exist among Australia, Canada, and the United States.
- Patient characteristics influence their utilization of nursing home services.
Conclusions:
- A dynamic view of access, emphasizing patient flow, is essential for understanding nursing home care.
- There is substantial scope for redistributing resources within nursing home systems in the studied countries.
- Policy implications arise from understanding the interplay between patient flow, access, and resource allocation.