Disproportionate Hospital Closures Impact Socioeconomically Vulnerable Communities, Study Reveals

A recent comprehensive national study highlights a concerning trend: hospitals that perform surgical procedures are closing at a much higher rate than new hospitals are opening, with a significant concentration of closures in impoverished and socially vulnerable communities. This shift results in reduced access to essential surgical care for populations already facing socioeconomic challenges.

The study, presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago, analyzed data from the American Hospital Association, focusing on hospitals conducting at least 100 surgeries annually between 2010 and 2020. Findings indicate a net decrease of 298 surgical hospitals nationwide over this period. Notably, hospital closures were disproportionately located in areas with lower median incomes and higher scores on the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index, which measures factors such as poverty, lack of access to transportation, and other socioeconomic hurdles.

Geographically, access to surgical facilities has markedly declined: there was a 6.2% reduction in areas within a 15-minute drive of a surgical hospital and a 3.7% decrease within a 30-minute radius. These closures tend to target census tracts with higher social vulnerability, effectively limiting healthcare access for the most disadvantaged populations. Experts warn that these closures place additional strain on remaining hospitals, which must accommodate an increased patient load without established medical histories, leading to resource shortages and stretched capacities.

Another critical issue stemming from hospital closures is the loss of patient medical records. When facilities shut down, patients lose access to their health histories, complicating ongoing treatment and increasing the need for redundant testing, which raises healthcare costs and risks. Additionally, the increased travel distances and unfamiliarity with new providers discourage some patients from seeking necessary surgical care, potentially worsening health outcomes.

The reasons behind these hospital closures are largely attributed to economic challenges, particularly for small and safety-net hospitals that serve a high proportion of government-insured patients. These closures exacerbate health disparities and threaten to elevate morbidity and mortality rates within vulnerable communities.

Ultimately, this trend underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to ensure equitable healthcare access. Maintaining and supporting hospitals in socioeconomically challenged areas is vital to prevent further disparities in surgical care availability and to protect the health of underserved populations.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-hospital-closures-disproportionately-affect-socioeconomically.html