Patients who need health care the most are having fewer options due to closing public hospitals. The uninsured and underinsured are clearly impacted since they no longer have access to care and are less likely to utilize services. When they do seek medical help, they are usually in more advanced stages of illness and injury. They may have to turn to local private hospitals. However, these services are extremely costly and are already overflowing with patients due to the recent closure of public hospitals in the area. Quality of care would also decrease since so many patients are now filing into one particular hospital. A decline in the number of public hospitals also has a dramatic impact on the residency programs in the area. Most public hospitals are located in underserved neighborhoods where services are needed most. Closure would decrease resident program positions and exposure to urban public health care sites that could have very well influenced their future practice choices.
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