Abstract
The geographical accessibility to hospitals relies on the configuration of the hospital network, spatial impedance and population distribution. This paper explores the potential geographic accessibility of the population to public hospitals in Romania by using the Distance Application Program Interface (API) Matrix service from Google Maps and open data sources. Based on real-time traffic navigation data, we examined the potential accessibility of hospitals through a weighted model that took into account the hospital competency level and travel time while using personal car transportation mode. Two scenarios were generated that depend on hospitals’ level of competency (I–V). When considering all categories of hospitals, access is relatively good with over 80% of the population reaching hospitals in less than 30 min. This is much lower in the case of hospitals that provide complex care, with 34% of the population travelling between 90 to 120 min to the nearest hospital classed in the first or second category of competence. The index of spatial accessibility (ISA), calculated as a function of real travel time and level of competency of the hospitals, shows spatial patterns of services access that highlight regional disparities or critical areas. The high concentration of infrastructure and specialised medical personnel in particular regions and large cities limits the access of a large part of the population to quality health services with travel time and distances exceeding optimal European level values. The results can help decision-makers to optimise the location of health services and improve health care delivery.
Highlights
The provision of adequate access to health care services continues to be central in developing policies, strategies and programs for public health
Application Program Interface (API) are suitable for providing real-time data of the shortest route in terms of distance and travel time from patients’ residences to the nearest hospital
We considered the potential accessibility of hospitals using weights for different hospital competence level and developed an index of spatial accessibility (ISA)
Summary
The provision of adequate access to health care services continues to be central in developing policies, strategies and programs for public health. Public health policies play an important role in reducing disparities in health care access and improving health outcomes [1]. Access to health care services generally means ‘the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes’ 4) and should be considered in relation to the need, provision and use of health services. Potential access to health care implies the potential need for health services by the whole population. It reflects the availability of health care providers and facilities in an
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