Publication Date: June 3rd, 1996
Publication Type(s): Working Paper
Topic(s): Networking and Collaboration
Author(s): Krein, S., Christianson, J.
This study uses 1991 and 1994 survey data from rural hospitals located in eight states to describe the specialty composition and factors that influence the presence of specialists on rural hospital medical staffs. In addition, we examine how the medical staff specialty composition of neighboring hospitals influences the composition of rural hospital medical staffs. The results show a strong positive association between the level of medical staff specialization in rural hospitals and the level of specialization of the closest rural neighbor, which suggests there is competition among rural hospitals based on the composition of the hospital medical staff.