The diffusion of obstetric technology into rural U.S. hospitals


  • Abstract

    We determined the distribution and sophistication of obstetric technologies in all 80 maternity hospitals in the state of Washington and examined the effect of rural or urban location, birth volume, and physician staffing on technological intensity. Although smaller and more rural hospitals refer most premature and low-birth-weight infants to regional referral centers, sophisticated prenatal and intrapartum technologies are available in the majority of even the smallest and most remote rural units. Rural hospitals have slightly lower obstetrical intervention rates than do their urban counterparts, but the differences are not great.


  • Authors:

    Rosenblatt RA, Saunders GR, Tressler CJ, Larson EH, Nesbitt TS, Hart LG

  • Journal/Publisher:

    Int J Technol Assess Health Care

  • Edition:

    Jun 1994. 10(3):479-489

  • Link to Article

    Access the article here: Int J Technol Assess Health Care

  • Citation:

    Rosenblatt RA, Saunders GR, Tressler CJ, Larson EH, Nesbitt TS, Hart LG. The Diffusion Of Obstetric Technology Into Rural U.S. Hospitals. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. Jun 1994 10(3):479-489

  • Related Studies:

    Diffusion of New Perinatal Technology into Rural Areas of Washington State