'Critical Access' Hospitals Show Higher Patient Mortality

"The report by Joynt et al. is likely to be disappointing to those committed to rural health care," said Dr. Martin S. Lipsky and Michael Glasser, Ph.D.

"Although the differences in critical access hospitals’ outcomes may be accounted for by cultural, economic, and other environmental issues, this study should also serve as a challenge to improve the health care experienced by rural residents.

"All residents of the United States should have access to safe, high-quality health care and should have confidence in the health care system regardless of where they live," Dr. Lipsky and Dr. Glasser said.

Dr. Lipsky and Dr. Glasser are in the department of community and family medicine at the University of Illinois, Rockford. Dr. Glasser is also at the National Center for Rural Health Professions, Rockford. Dr. Lipsky was formerly on the board of the Midwest Medical Center, Galena, Ill. Dr. Glasser reported ties to the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. These remarks were taken from their editorial comment accompanying Dr. Joynt’s report (JAMA 2011;306:96-7).