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Flinterman LE, González-González AI, Seils L, Bes J, Ballester M, Bañeres J, Dan S, Domagala A, Dubas-Jakóbczyk K, Likic R, Kroezen M, Batenburg R. Characteristics of Medical Deserts and Approaches to Mitigate Their Health Workforce Issues: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies in Western Countries. Int J Health Policy Manag 2023; 12:7454. [PMID: 38618823 PMCID: PMC10590222 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical deserts are considered a problematic issue for many Western countries which try to employ multitude of policies and initiatives to achieve a better distribution of their health workforce (HWF). The aim of this study was to systematically map research and provide an overview of definitions, characteristics, contributing factors and approaches to mitigate medical deserts within the European Union (EU)-funded project "ROUTE-HWF" (a Roadmap OUT of mEdical deserts into supportive Health WorkForce initiatives and policies). METHODS We performed a scoping review to identify knowledge clusters/research gaps in the field of medical deserts focusing on HWF issues. Six databases were searched till June 2021. Studies reporting primary research from Western countries on definitions, characteristics, contributing factors, and approaches were included. Two independent reviewers assessed studies for eligibility, extracted data and clustered studies according to the four defined outcomes. RESULTS Two-hundred and forty studies were included (n=116, 48% Australia/New Zealand; n=105, 44% North America; n=20, 8% Europe). All used observational designs except for five quasi-experimental studies. Studies provided definitions (n=171, 71%), characteristics (n=95, 40%), contributing factors (n=112, 47%), and approaches to mitigate medical deserts (n=87, 36%). Most medical deserts were defined by the density of the population in an area. Contributing factors to HWF issues in medical deserts consisted in work-related (n=55, 23%) and lifestyle-related factors (n=33, 14%) of the HWF as well as sociodemographic characteristics (n=79, 33%). Approaches to mitigate them focused on training adapted to the scope of rural practice (n=67, 28%), HWF distribution (n=3, 1%), support/infrastructure (n=8, 3%) and innovative models of care (n=7, 3%). CONCLUSION Our study provides the first scoping review that presents and categorizes definitions, characteristics, contributing factors, and approaches to mitigate HWF issues in medical deserts. We identified gaps such as the scarcity of longitudinal studies to investigate the impact of factors contributing to medical deserts, and interventional studies to evaluate the effectiveness of approaches to mitigate HWF issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda E. Flinterman
- Health Workforce and Organization Studies, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Seils
- Avedis Donabedian Research Institute – UAB, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Bes
- Health Workforce and Organization Studies, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Sorin Dan
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship InnoLab, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Alicja Domagala
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Dubas-Jakóbczyk
- Department of Health Economics and Social Security, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Robert Likic
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marieke Kroezen
- Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Batenburg
- Health Workforce and Organization Studies, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Vohra S, Pointer C, Fogleman A, Albers T, Patel A, Weeks E. Designing Policy Solutions to Build a Healthier Rural America. THE JOURNAL OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS : A JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS 2020; 48:491-505. [PMID: 33021172 DOI: 10.1177/1073110520958874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Disparities exist in the health, livelihood, and opportunities for the 46-60 million people living in America's rural communities. Rural communities across the United States need a new energy and focus concentrated around health and health care that allows for the designing capturing, and spreading of existing and new innovations. This paper aims to provide a framework for policy solutions to build a healthier rural America describing both the current state of rural health policy and the policies and practices in states that could be used as a national model for positive change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Vohra
- Sameer Vohra, M.D., J.D., M.A., F.A.A.P., is the Founding Chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's (SIU SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy. A general pediatrician, Dr. Vohra is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Humanities, and Law. Dr. Vohra completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), as well as earning a Master of Arts in public policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), a medical doctorate at SIU SOM (Springfield, IL), a juris doctorate, graduating first in his class, at SIU School of Law (Carbondale, IL), and a Bachelor of Arts with honors at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Carolyn Pointer, J.D., is an Assistant Professor in Medical Humanities, and the Policy Director in the Department of Population Science and Policy at the SIU School of Medicine (Springfield, IL). Her background in Medical-Legal Partnerships focuses her work on the social determinants of health. Professor Pointer earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science with honors at the Boston University School of Education (Boston, MA). Amanda Fogleman, M.Eng., Senior Research Project Coordinator, is one of the founding members of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy (Springfield, IL). Ms. Fogleman graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwards-ville (Edwardsville, IL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois Chicago with a Master of Engineering in Bioinformatics (Chicago, IL). T.J. Albers, M.A., is a Health Policy Coordinator at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy. He received his B.A. from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and M.A. from University of Illinois - Springfield (Springfield, IL). His research focuses on rural health care delivery, policy development, and addressing rural health disparities. Anish Patel is a J.D candidate at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). He previously worked as a Research Chemist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., is Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She received her B.A. from Columbia University (New York, New York) and JD from the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She previously served on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law (Lawrence, Kansas), where she was director of the medical-legal partnership clinic and has visited at University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, California). Her research and teaching focus is in health care financing and regulation and public health law
| | - Carolyn Pointer
- Sameer Vohra, M.D., J.D., M.A., F.A.A.P., is the Founding Chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's (SIU SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy. A general pediatrician, Dr. Vohra is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Humanities, and Law. Dr. Vohra completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), as well as earning a Master of Arts in public policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), a medical doctorate at SIU SOM (Springfield, IL), a juris doctorate, graduating first in his class, at SIU School of Law (Carbondale, IL), and a Bachelor of Arts with honors at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Carolyn Pointer, J.D., is an Assistant Professor in Medical Humanities, and the Policy Director in the Department of Population Science and Policy at the SIU School of Medicine (Springfield, IL). Her background in Medical-Legal Partnerships focuses her work on the social determinants of health. Professor Pointer earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science with honors at the Boston University School of Education (Boston, MA). Amanda Fogleman, M.Eng., Senior Research Project Coordinator, is one of the founding members of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy (Springfield, IL). Ms. Fogleman graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwards-ville (Edwardsville, IL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois Chicago with a Master of Engineering in Bioinformatics (Chicago, IL). T.J. Albers, M.A., is a Health Policy Coordinator at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy. He received his B.A. from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and M.A. from University of Illinois - Springfield (Springfield, IL). His research focuses on rural health care delivery, policy development, and addressing rural health disparities. Anish Patel is a J.D candidate at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). He previously worked as a Research Chemist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., is Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She received her B.A. from Columbia University (New York, New York) and JD from the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She previously served on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law (Lawrence, Kansas), where she was director of the medical-legal partnership clinic and has visited at University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, California). Her research and teaching focus is in health care financing and regulation and public health law
| | - Amanda Fogleman
- Sameer Vohra, M.D., J.D., M.A., F.A.A.P., is the Founding Chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's (SIU SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy. A general pediatrician, Dr. Vohra is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Humanities, and Law. Dr. Vohra completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), as well as earning a Master of Arts in public policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), a medical doctorate at SIU SOM (Springfield, IL), a juris doctorate, graduating first in his class, at SIU School of Law (Carbondale, IL), and a Bachelor of Arts with honors at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Carolyn Pointer, J.D., is an Assistant Professor in Medical Humanities, and the Policy Director in the Department of Population Science and Policy at the SIU School of Medicine (Springfield, IL). Her background in Medical-Legal Partnerships focuses her work on the social determinants of health. Professor Pointer earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science with honors at the Boston University School of Education (Boston, MA). Amanda Fogleman, M.Eng., Senior Research Project Coordinator, is one of the founding members of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy (Springfield, IL). Ms. Fogleman graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwards-ville (Edwardsville, IL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois Chicago with a Master of Engineering in Bioinformatics (Chicago, IL). T.J. Albers, M.A., is a Health Policy Coordinator at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy. He received his B.A. from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and M.A. from University of Illinois - Springfield (Springfield, IL). His research focuses on rural health care delivery, policy development, and addressing rural health disparities. Anish Patel is a J.D candidate at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). He previously worked as a Research Chemist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., is Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She received her B.A. from Columbia University (New York, New York) and JD from the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She previously served on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law (Lawrence, Kansas), where she was director of the medical-legal partnership clinic and has visited at University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, California). Her research and teaching focus is in health care financing and regulation and public health law
| | - Thomas Albers
- Sameer Vohra, M.D., J.D., M.A., F.A.A.P., is the Founding Chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's (SIU SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy. A general pediatrician, Dr. Vohra is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Humanities, and Law. Dr. Vohra completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), as well as earning a Master of Arts in public policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), a medical doctorate at SIU SOM (Springfield, IL), a juris doctorate, graduating first in his class, at SIU School of Law (Carbondale, IL), and a Bachelor of Arts with honors at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Carolyn Pointer, J.D., is an Assistant Professor in Medical Humanities, and the Policy Director in the Department of Population Science and Policy at the SIU School of Medicine (Springfield, IL). Her background in Medical-Legal Partnerships focuses her work on the social determinants of health. Professor Pointer earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science with honors at the Boston University School of Education (Boston, MA). Amanda Fogleman, M.Eng., Senior Research Project Coordinator, is one of the founding members of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy (Springfield, IL). Ms. Fogleman graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwards-ville (Edwardsville, IL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois Chicago with a Master of Engineering in Bioinformatics (Chicago, IL). T.J. Albers, M.A., is a Health Policy Coordinator at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy. He received his B.A. from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and M.A. from University of Illinois - Springfield (Springfield, IL). His research focuses on rural health care delivery, policy development, and addressing rural health disparities. Anish Patel is a J.D candidate at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). He previously worked as a Research Chemist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., is Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She received her B.A. from Columbia University (New York, New York) and JD from the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She previously served on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law (Lawrence, Kansas), where she was director of the medical-legal partnership clinic and has visited at University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, California). Her research and teaching focus is in health care financing and regulation and public health law
| | - Anish Patel
- Sameer Vohra, M.D., J.D., M.A., F.A.A.P., is the Founding Chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's (SIU SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy. A general pediatrician, Dr. Vohra is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Humanities, and Law. Dr. Vohra completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), as well as earning a Master of Arts in public policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), a medical doctorate at SIU SOM (Springfield, IL), a juris doctorate, graduating first in his class, at SIU School of Law (Carbondale, IL), and a Bachelor of Arts with honors at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Carolyn Pointer, J.D., is an Assistant Professor in Medical Humanities, and the Policy Director in the Department of Population Science and Policy at the SIU School of Medicine (Springfield, IL). Her background in Medical-Legal Partnerships focuses her work on the social determinants of health. Professor Pointer earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science with honors at the Boston University School of Education (Boston, MA). Amanda Fogleman, M.Eng., Senior Research Project Coordinator, is one of the founding members of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy (Springfield, IL). Ms. Fogleman graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwards-ville (Edwardsville, IL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois Chicago with a Master of Engineering in Bioinformatics (Chicago, IL). T.J. Albers, M.A., is a Health Policy Coordinator at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy. He received his B.A. from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and M.A. from University of Illinois - Springfield (Springfield, IL). His research focuses on rural health care delivery, policy development, and addressing rural health disparities. Anish Patel is a J.D candidate at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). He previously worked as a Research Chemist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., is Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She received her B.A. from Columbia University (New York, New York) and JD from the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She previously served on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law (Lawrence, Kansas), where she was director of the medical-legal partnership clinic and has visited at University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, California). Her research and teaching focus is in health care financing and regulation and public health law
| | - Elizabeth Weeks
- Sameer Vohra, M.D., J.D., M.A., F.A.A.P., is the Founding Chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's (SIU SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy. A general pediatrician, Dr. Vohra is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Humanities, and Law. Dr. Vohra completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), as well as earning a Master of Arts in public policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), a medical doctorate at SIU SOM (Springfield, IL), a juris doctorate, graduating first in his class, at SIU School of Law (Carbondale, IL), and a Bachelor of Arts with honors at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Carolyn Pointer, J.D., is an Assistant Professor in Medical Humanities, and the Policy Director in the Department of Population Science and Policy at the SIU School of Medicine (Springfield, IL). Her background in Medical-Legal Partnerships focuses her work on the social determinants of health. Professor Pointer earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science with honors at the Boston University School of Education (Boston, MA). Amanda Fogleman, M.Eng., Senior Research Project Coordinator, is one of the founding members of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy (Springfield, IL). Ms. Fogleman graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwards-ville (Edwardsville, IL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois Chicago with a Master of Engineering in Bioinformatics (Chicago, IL). T.J. Albers, M.A., is a Health Policy Coordinator at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's Department of Population Science and Policy. He received his B.A. from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and M.A. from University of Illinois - Springfield (Springfield, IL). His research focuses on rural health care delivery, policy development, and addressing rural health disparities. Anish Patel is a J.D candidate at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). He previously worked as a Research Chemist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., is Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law at the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She received her B.A. from Columbia University (New York, New York) and JD from the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Georgia). She previously served on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law (Lawrence, Kansas), where she was director of the medical-legal partnership clinic and has visited at University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, California). Her research and teaching focus is in health care financing and regulation and public health law
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