An integrated approach to measuring potential spatial access to health care services

摘要: In recent years there have been several attempts to develop quantitative measures of potential spatial access health care services which, despite their limitations, offer many positive ideas that can perhaps be integrated into a logically consistent and generally acceptable index. It is in this vein the current paper presents an approach, drawing partially from past contributions, measuring services. The final index derived as culmination series individual measures, starting with initial gravity formulation progressing through successive stages new elements, definition conceptualization access, are introduced. Application proposed ambulatory medical system Akron, Ohio SMSA, demonstrates validity measure, its suitability planning tool.