Research on the Evaluation of an Age-Friendly Layout of Medical Service Facilities in Wuhan City Based on Accessibility

Abstract

Accessibility is an important indicator for measuring the level of medical facility services in cities. Traditional studies on healthcare accessibility for the elderly have typically focused on the capabilities of emergency services while overlooking the daily independent healthcare needs of the elderly. Taking Wuhan City as an example, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method is used in this study to measure the accessibility of urban elderly residents with respect to general hospitals, specialized hospitals, and community health service centers. It also analyzes the appropriateness of the medical facility layout for the elderly in Wuhan City. The research findings indicate the following: (1) The accessibility evaluation method for urban medical facilities established with the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area model can accurately assess the supply–demand relationship between the elderly and various levels of medical facilities. (2) The overall coverage of medical service facilities in Wuhan City is relatively high, but there are significant differences in accessibility for elderly residents in different areas. (3) The appropriateness of daily healthcare access for elderly residents in the central urban areas of Wuhan City is mainly influenced by the layout of general hospitals, while, in the peripheral areas, it is mainly influenced by the layout of specialized hospitals and community health service centers. (4) Improving the appropriateness of urban medical facilities for elderly individuals requires differentiated improvement measures tailored to the characteristics of different zones.

Keywords

• age-friendly
• routine medical visits
• accessibility
• Wuhan city