Geographic Location and State Hospital Utilization
PETER WEISS PH.D.1,
JACQUELINE R. MACAULAY PH.D.2, , and
ALLEN PINCUS M.S.W.2
1 Project Director, County Mental Hospital Project at the Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute, University of Wisconsin, 1339 University Avenue, Madison, Wis. 53705
2 County Mental Hospital Project at the Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute, University of Wisconsin, 1339 University Avenue, Madison, Wis. 53705
In this study, the distance between the state hospital and the community was found to be a factor influencing the use of the hospital. As this distance increased the admission rate decreased, the proportion of court commitments increased, and the degree of impairment requiring confinement became more severe. While the expectation that the proportion of voluntary admissions would decrease with increasing distance was not confirmed, the community near the state hospital did exhibit greater diversity in hospitalization decisions.
