Previous research has shown hospital closures have immediate negative health and economic effects on a rural community. What is less understood is the longer-term recovery period: does the healthcare infrastructure adapt to the loss of the hospital, or does the hospital closure lead to further erosion of local resources? In this study, we tracked the availability of local resources post-closure and identified any factors predicting the type of response. Our findings informed the ability of communities and policymakers to adapt during this period of continued increases in the rate of closures.

There may be products related to this project; please contact the lead researcher for more information.