I bet that imbalance can be accounted for by the fact that hospitals with fully equipped labor and delivery departments are in cities.
I expect the same trends would appear for most medical procedures. The more complex it is, the more likely it will be concentrated in cities.
I used to live in Indiana. Every level 1 trauma center—the most comprehensive level—in the state is in Indianapolis. They’re not just in the same city—they’re connected together and in a very small geographic area.
About 25% of rural mothers—mostly the ones with higher-risk pregnancies—deliver at urban hospitals, because rural hospitals don't have NICUs.
There is absolutely no corresponding chunk of rural Americans at end-of-life who randomly go get admitted to faraway urban hospitals when they're terminal.
This is such an enormous difference that it explains the entire datagraphic and then some. The datagraphic does not meaningfully represent anything other than the 1/4 of country moms who have city deliveries.
Yes, but this is still an interesting graphic because it's still showing an imbalance relative to base population
I bet that imbalance can be accounted for by the fact that hospitals with fully equipped labor and delivery departments are in cities.
I expect the same trends would appear for most medical procedures. The more complex it is, the more likely it will be concentrated in cities.
I used to live in Indiana. Every level 1 trauma center—the most comprehensive level—in the state is in Indianapolis. They’re not just in the same city—they’re connected together and in a very small geographic area.
Also this: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/7-maternity-service-closures-in-2025/
I'm guessing this is based on something like population data, not actual location of death/birth.
But people also die in cities.
Not with anywhere near the same excess figures.
About 25% of rural mothers—mostly the ones with higher-risk pregnancies—deliver at urban hospitals, because rural hospitals don't have NICUs. There is absolutely no corresponding chunk of rural Americans at end-of-life who randomly go get admitted to faraway urban hospitals when they're terminal.
This is such an enormous difference that it explains the entire datagraphic and then some. The datagraphic does not meaningfully represent anything other than the 1/4 of country moms who have city deliveries.
How is this relevant to this sub.