Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital
Abstract Our aim was to examine the influence of the market entry of Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital on community and hospital-based healthcare utilization (HCU). A retrospective study was conducted among Maccabi Health Services enrollees in the regions of Ashdod (n = 94,575) and Netanya (c...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41758-2 |
| _version_ | 1797559942694043648 |
|---|---|
| author | Noa Dror Lavy Royi Barnea Erela Rotlevi Tzahit Simon-Tuval |
| author_facet | Noa Dror Lavy Royi Barnea Erela Rotlevi Tzahit Simon-Tuval |
| author_sort | Noa Dror Lavy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Our aim was to examine the influence of the market entry of Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital on community and hospital-based healthcare utilization (HCU). A retrospective study was conducted among Maccabi Health Services enrollees in the regions of Ashdod (n = 94,575) and Netanya (control group, n = 80,200) before and after this market entry. Based on difference-in-differences framework, we examined the change in HCU of Ashdod region’s enrollees compared to the control group and following the market entry using multivariable generalized estimating equations models. Our results revealed that, as hypothesized, after the market entry and compared to the control group, there was a 4% increase in specialists visits not requiring referral (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.03–1.06, p < 0.001), a 4% increase in MRI and CT scans (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, p = 0.022), and a 33% increase in emergency room visits (RR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.29–1.38, p < 0.001). Unexpectedly, no changes were observed in the number of hospital admissions (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.97–1.14, p = 0.250), and hospitalization days (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.94–1.04, p = 0.668). Moreover, and unexpectedly, there was a 1% decrease in primary care physician visits (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00, p = 0.002), a 11% decrease in specialists visits requiring a referral (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.86–0.91, p < 0.001), and a 42% decrease in elective surgeries (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.55–0.60, p < 0.001). We conclude that this market entry was not translated to an increase in utilization of all services. The unique model of maintaining the continuity of care that was adopted by the hospital and patients’ loyalty may led to the unique inter-relationship between the hospital and community care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:52:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5f38e9f0a284a32a823928956c1c616 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:52:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5f38e9f0a284a32a823928956c1c6162023-11-20T09:20:00ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-09-011311810.1038/s41598-023-41758-2Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University HospitalNoa Dror Lavy0Royi Barnea1Erela Rotlevi2Tzahit Simon-Tuval3Department of Health Policy and Management, Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevAssuta Health Services Research Institute, Assuta Medical CentersMaccabi Health ServiceDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevAbstract Our aim was to examine the influence of the market entry of Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital on community and hospital-based healthcare utilization (HCU). A retrospective study was conducted among Maccabi Health Services enrollees in the regions of Ashdod (n = 94,575) and Netanya (control group, n = 80,200) before and after this market entry. Based on difference-in-differences framework, we examined the change in HCU of Ashdod region’s enrollees compared to the control group and following the market entry using multivariable generalized estimating equations models. Our results revealed that, as hypothesized, after the market entry and compared to the control group, there was a 4% increase in specialists visits not requiring referral (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.03–1.06, p < 0.001), a 4% increase in MRI and CT scans (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, p = 0.022), and a 33% increase in emergency room visits (RR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.29–1.38, p < 0.001). Unexpectedly, no changes were observed in the number of hospital admissions (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.97–1.14, p = 0.250), and hospitalization days (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.94–1.04, p = 0.668). Moreover, and unexpectedly, there was a 1% decrease in primary care physician visits (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00, p = 0.002), a 11% decrease in specialists visits requiring a referral (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.86–0.91, p < 0.001), and a 42% decrease in elective surgeries (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.55–0.60, p < 0.001). We conclude that this market entry was not translated to an increase in utilization of all services. The unique model of maintaining the continuity of care that was adopted by the hospital and patients’ loyalty may led to the unique inter-relationship between the hospital and community care.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41758-2 |
| spellingShingle | Noa Dror Lavy Royi Barnea Erela Rotlevi Tzahit Simon-Tuval Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital Scientific Reports |
| title | Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital |
| title_full | Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital |
| title_fullStr | Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital |
| title_short | Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital |
| title_sort | unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the samson assuta ashdod university hospital |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41758-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT noadrorlavy uniquepatternsofhealthcareutilizationfollowingtheopeningofthesamsonassutaashdoduniversityhospital AT royibarnea uniquepatternsofhealthcareutilizationfollowingtheopeningofthesamsonassutaashdoduniversityhospital AT erelarotlevi uniquepatternsofhealthcareutilizationfollowingtheopeningofthesamsonassutaashdoduniversityhospital AT tzahitsimontuval uniquepatternsofhealthcareutilizationfollowingtheopeningofthesamsonassutaashdoduniversityhospital |