The Implications of Urban Social and Economic Realities on Strategic Management of Hospitals

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
As Ontario embarks on restructuring its health care system and realigning resources to meet population-based needs, health care providers and planning agencies need to link epidemiological data (a community's socioeconomic, demographics and health status) and assess its implications on hospital utilization trends. A fundamental challenge for hospitals and other providers is to “know their communities” along these lines. This article summarizes the results of a multidimensional review of a section of a large urban community and integrates it with utilization of acute inpatient beds. General observations are offered for policy makers and hospital management.