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The Diffusion of Obstetric Technology into Rural U.S. Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Roger A. Rosenblatt ,
Gregory R. Saunders ,
Carolyn J. Tressler ,
Eric H. Larson ,
Thomas S. Nesbitt  and
L. Gary Hart
Roger A. Rosenblatt
Affiliation:
University of Washington
Gregory R. Saunders
Affiliation:
University of Washington
Carolyn J. Tressler
Affiliation:
University of Washington
Eric H. Larson
Affiliation:
University of Washington
Thomas S. Nesbitt
Affiliation:
University of California, Sacramento
L. Gary Hart
Affiliation:
University of Washington
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Abstract

We determined the distribution and sophistication of obstetric technologies in all 80 maternity hospitals in the state of Washington and examined the effect of rural or urban location, birth volume, and physician staffing on technological intensity. Although smaller and more rural hospitals refer most premature and low-birth-weight infants to regional referral centers, sophisticated prenatal and intrapartum technologies are available in the majority of even the smallest and most remote rural units. Rural hospitals have slightly lower obstetrical intervention rates than do their urban counterparts, but the differences are not great.

Type
General Essays
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , Summer 1994 , pp. 479 - 489
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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