Rural Patients More Likely Than City Dwellers To Have Common Surgeries
The Associated Press: Study Challenges Rural Lack of Access to SurgeryA surprising study of nearly 46 million Medicare patients says older residents in rural areas are more likely to have any of nine common surgeries than people in cities. Back surgery, hip and knee replacements, and prostate removal were among the operations performed more often in rural Medicare patients, the study found. Emergency surgeries and elective operations alike were more common among rural residents. The results seem to challenge the idea that city dwellers have better access to medical care, but experts say the research raises more questions than it answers (5/16). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.