Residential location of people with chronic spinal cord injury: the importance of local health care infrastructure

People with spinal cord injuries (SCI) often need specialized medical care due to secondary health issues. This care is frequently located in centralized areas, making it hard for those in remote locations to access. This might cause individuals to relocate to areas with better healthcare access. This study found that people with SCI tend to live in specific areas, often near specialized SCI centers and in urban areas with a high density of outpatient physicians. This suggests they choose their residence based on access to healthcare infrastructure. The study also explored whether people with SCI would consider moving as they age. It found that those in rural areas were more likely to consider relocating to urban areas. However, language barriers could deter them from moving closer to specialized centers.

• 1
  People with SCI were more likely to reside close to specialized SCI centers, indicating that access to specialized care influences residential choices.
• 2
  Individuals with SCI were more likely to live in urban areas with a high density of outpatient physicians, suggesting a preference for readily available healthcare services.
• 3
  People with SCI living in rural areas were more inclined to consider relocating when aging, but language barriers could prevent moves closer to specialized centers.