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Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2023.11.002

Proximity in Health Care

Marjan Kostov

1Bonitas Holding GmbH, Herford, Germany.

2Deutsche Fachpflege Gruppe, Germany.

*Corresponding author: Marjan Kostov

Published: December 21,2023

Abstract

While physical closeness is interpreted in various ways throughout, in this setting, it is defined as the measure of proximity to a healthcare setting. This response is obtained by asking respondents whether they believe the nearby medical center is close or far. Proximity in healthcare has been identified as a potential barrier, especially in rural areas where the population density is low. Patients often have to travel significant distances to reach the nearest healthcare providers and nursing homes. In contrast, cities have multiple healthcare providers located near the patients. Residents of urban areas are less concerned about the travel time required to reach their destinations. The time it takes to travel remains a significant factor in the selection of a nursing home for emergency purposes. When a physician referral or appointment is not needed, utilizing one nursing home for a specific issue is directly associated with using the same nursing home for other services. For instance, patients admitted with heart conditions will use the medical and laboratory services available at the nursing home. Different chances of survival may be taken into account based on proximity to a nursing home rather than a hospital. Nursing home proximity may seem like a straightforward consideration, but the overall associated costs involve complex calculations. For instance, when conducting a cost-benefit analysis of a nursing home and its life-saving benefits for life-endangering illnesses like cardiac arrests and strokes, it is not possible to guarantee the quality and location of nursing homes. Big cities have higher-quality facilities than those found in rural areas. People in need of healthcare services are located in areas where these resources are available, leading to spatial sorting issues. Changes in proximity result in changes in costs and benefits that are difficult to quantify. For instance, the establishment of a larger nursing home with high-quality services can be advantageous, as it ensures the provision of quality services irrespective of distance.

Keywords

Health Care, Proximity, Distance

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How to cite this paper

Proximity in Health Care

How to cite this paper: Marjan Kostov. (2023) Proximity in Health CareJournal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science7(11), 2155-2158.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2023.11.002