In the United States, between 1990 and 2000, 228 rural hospitals closed, leading to a reduction of 8,228 hospital beds. In 2009, patients living in rural areas of the United States were transferred to other facilities for care at a rate three times higher than that of patients in large central metropolitan areas.
Between 1990 and 2000, the decline of rural hospitals in the United States led to a reduction of 8,228 hospital beds. In 2009, it was observed that patients living in rural areas faced greater challenges in accessing care, as they were being transferred to other facilities at a rate three times higher than those in urban central metropolitan areas.