Identifying Hospital Deserts in Texas Before and During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Abstract: In our study, we utilized GIS to analyze hospital visitor data from January to June of 2019 and 2020, focusing on the impact of the initial COVID-19 wave. We found that while most demographic groups experienced shifts in visitor levels, American Indian and Pacific Islander groups sometimes showed no change. Additionally, in 19 out of 28 Austin hospitals, the average distance traveled from home increased in 2020 compared to 2019. We introduced a hospital desert index, considering factors like travel time, location, bed supply, and population, to identify areas with inadequate hospital access. Our findings revealed that cities on the outskirts of metropolitan areas and rural towns face greater hospital desertification compared to dense city centers.