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James A. Block, MD
University Hospitals of Cleveland

Donna I. Regenstreif, PhD
Rochester (NY) Area Hospitals Corporation

Paul F. Griner, MD
Strong Memorial Hospital University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

JAMA. 1987;257(23):3227-3228.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In Reply.—

In response to the letter from Dr Meggs, the following recently available information concerning patient access to Rochester hospitals should prove helpful.

With respect to open heart surgery, the surgical rate among Monroe County residents was 33% higher than the New York statewide average in 1984, and in 1985 it was 45% higher. Mortality rates associated with diseases of the heart were 26% lower in Monroe County than statewide. We are not familiar with Dr Meggs' contention that there was "a board that set a cap below... community needs." The hospitals offering this service have made efforts to find a reasonable balance between community need for this service and access for other surgical specialties. Given the above data, it would appear that a reasonable balance has been found.

During the period 1980 through 1984, the average annual medical/surgical occupancy level at Rochester's urban hospitals ranged from 83% to . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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