For the second paper review assignment, I reviewed Examining distance effects on hospitalizations using GIS: a study of 3 health regions in British Columbia, Canada by Lin, Allan, & Penning, 2002

Overall, Lin et al.’s paper was somewhat successful in their analysis of distance effects on hospitalizations. As previously noted, there were several limitations to the study, and alternative approaches that may have been employed for more accurate results. The outline of their methodology was difficult to follow at times, as they employed some sophisticated statistical measures without defining them. Furthermore, the presentation of their results was not aided by figures or diagrams, which would have been beneficial for overall comprehension. Additionally, there was no indication of how patient confidentiality was preserved. Nonetheless, with the limited data and funding, this study did represent the importance of integrating geographic and socioeconomic factors in healthcare service provision. Thus, the score given for this paper is 6.5/10.