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. 2013 Oct;48(5):1719-29.
doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12050. Epub 2013 Mar 11.

The influence of visiting consultant clinics on measures of access to cancer care: evidence from the state of Iowa

Roger Tracy  1 , Inwoo Nam, Thomas S Gruca
Affiliations

The influence of visiting consultant clinics on measures of access to cancer care: evidence from the state of Iowa

Roger Tracy et al. Health Serv Res. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of visiting consultant clinics on measures of access to cancer care for rural patients.

Data sources: 2010 Visiting Medical Consultant Database for the state of Iowa (Carver College of Medicine) and the Iowa Physicians Information System (Carver College of Medicine).

Study design: We compared shortest driving times to the nearest medical oncologist for all Iowa census tracts under two scenarios: including only primary practice locations and adding monthly visiting consultant clinic locations.

Principal findings: For rural Iowans, the median driving time to the closest site for medical oncology care falls from 51.6 to 19.2 minutes when monthly visiting consultant clinics are considered.

Conclusions: Including visiting consultant clinics has a significant impact on measures of geographic access to cancer care.

Keywords: Rural; access; cancer; medical oncologists.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Impact of Visiting Consultant Clinics on Travel Time to Nearest Medical Oncologist
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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