Geographic variation in preventable hospitalization of older women and men: Implications for access to primary health care

This study demonstrates how readily available data and small area analysis can be used to identify potential problems of access to primary care servic es for older women and men. Gender and socioeconomic differences in rates o f preventable hospitalization are examined. Using hospital discharge data, five county and twenty-four intra-county areas in Upstate New York are stud ied. There is significant variation in preventable hospitalization within c ounties. Areas having significantly higher rates of these hospitalizations tend to have higher rates for both women and men. Problems of access are as sociated with lower income areas for women and men.