Residents of rural areas are choosing to seek care in urban hospitals in growing numbers, according to a new study.
And while this trend has been accelerated by rural hospital closures, it is occurring even in areas where rural hospitals have not closed.
Among the reasons for this migration from rural to urban hospitals are physician referrals and perceptions about the cost and quality of care.
Learn more from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health article “Urban hospitals see rising admissions from rural Medicare patients,” which includes a link to additional resources.