Spatial Accessibility Models of the Efficient Network of Secondary Healthcare Providers in Slovenia

Abstract

The main purpose of our research was to assess the accessibility of existing providers of secondary healthcare using established theoretical models of spatial accessibility. In the study, we analyzed the optimal locations and the optimal number of healthcare providers needed for an efficient network of secondary healthcare providers in Slovenia. We used four different location–allocation models and found that the MA-model is the most suitable for planning a potentially efficient network of general hospitals in Slovenia. We showed various scenarios for the development of the general hospital network based on three distinct accessibility travel time intervals, while also taking into account various population coverage proportions that can access hospital services within a given travel time interval. The key finding is that the same coverage of the population with hospital services could be achieved with a smaller number of general hospitals, if the hospitals were optimally located.