Health facilities: big, bigger, better?

Facilities providing women’s healthcare are so varied in many aspects. One of the main variations is the size of facilities, they are either big or small, with a few in between.

There is a tendency to want to have your care in the biggest of facilities for various reasons. Is this always better, or could you have equivalent or better care in smaller facilities?

Big healthcare facilities tend to pull resources together in order to provide an efficient service. You are more likely to find super specialists and more modern equipment in big facilities. Smaller facilities may be completely different in terms of personnel and equipment.

But they may have strengths that you may struggle to find in bigger facilities. These may range from pretty focused service provision, to almost non-existent bureaucratic processes that sometimes can interfere with the quality of care that you get.

Getting yourself to be seen in a big healthcare facility can be an arduous process. You are likely going to have to make a booking way in advance, and wait your turn. Your turn may come at an inconvenient time, and flexibility on the facility's bookings may not always be in your favor. Come the day, your chosen specialist may be caught up with other competing interests, mandating delegating your care to others. As if that’s not enough, additional diagnostic aids like blood tests and imaging will require further waiting in unending queues. And the results may not easily find their way to you. Every additional service point has processes and policies to be followed, not always working in your favor.

What about smaller facilities? They are more likely to be located where you are. Being locally placed means they are more likely to identify with your community interests. Interpersonal relationships are likely to be better, and you may feel more appreciated. Bureaucratic hurdles are rare, all processes tend to be simpler and clearer. And the cost of care may be more affordable.

So rather than select your healthcare facilities based on their bigness, think about the overall quality. Can you get an appointment without undue hurdles? Do you get to see your chosen specialist or are constantly being delegated to somebody else? What about getting your test results and follow-up reviews without undue hassles? Bigger facilities may be more alluring and prestigious, but are not necessarily better in service provision.

Always think about what kind of care you really want. Some care will only be available in bigger facilities. Equally, smaller facilities may have some aspects of specialized care. Undue peer pressures to attend the bigger and more prestigious facilities may not always be in your best interests. Your choice must be dictated by your specific healthcare needs, including accessibility and cost among other factors.