The experiences of rural British Columbians accessing surgical and obstetrical care

The attrition of small volume surgical and maternity services in rural Canada over the past three decades has made access to these services especially challenging for rural citizens. While many of these closures have occurred as consequences of regionalization, a strategy to regionally centralize healthcare services, many studies investigating outcomes of regionalization have focused on costs and medical endpoints rather than the direct experiences of the rural patients affected. In this study, we aimed to understand and document the experiences of rural residents accessing procedural and maternity care both locally and away from home. This study is part of a larger evaluation framework which prioritizes the insight of rural residents regarding healthcare issues. We conducted focus groups and interviews with 54 participants in six communities across British Columbia’s southeastern and northern regions. Thematic analysis showed that rural residents experienced unique challenges when leaving their communities to access care. This included logistics of travel, poor coordination of care between multiple providers, and financial and psychosocial issues. Despite being mostly content with the medical care received, participants expressed needing more attention to their unique needs and preferences as patients leaving their home communities for care. Understanding these challenges facilitates the planning of healthcare services in a more equitable manner. Our findings suggest that we need increased patient-centered healthcare planning that aims to alleviate the financial and psychosocial strain on rural residents.
Related content
-
Policy & Measurement
The Evolving US Patient Experience Measurement and Reporting Landscape: What’s Next for HCAHPS and Why It Matters
The Patient Experience Policy Forum (PXPF) of The Beryl Institute has had a focus on impacting the US patient experience measurement structure since its founding in 2017. PXPF successes over the years have included interfacing with CMS leadership to advocate for updates and improvement of the CAHPS system, including the HCAHPS survey. Significant changes are
Learn more -
Policy & Measurement
Listening to the Unsaid: Utilizing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to Manage the Dental Anxiety of a Special Child
This article is the journey of a dentist who adopted the additional role of a healthcare manager and embarked on a transformative journey to enhance the realm of pedodontics.
Learn more -
Policy & Measurement
Engage in the Global Experience Measure Inquiry
In recent years, the Global Experience Measure (GXM) effort at the Institute has brought together over 1,000 member voices from our global community. Driven by feedback from our Global Council and inspired by a PXJ article, Measuring what matters: A proposal for reframing how we evaluate and improve experience in healthcare, this effort has led
Learn more