Jarvis' law and the planning of mental health services.

Abstract

ADMISSION RATES to Connecticut State hospitals show a strong tendency to reflect Jarvis' law-that is, to vary inversely with distance between the patient's residence and the hospital. The influence of accessibility is independent of the other variables known to affect utilization of State hospitals; it is not an artifact due to population density or the presence of high-risk groups (1), and it is not explained by the location of alternative psychiatric service (2). It also is not accounted for by errors in classifying the residence of patients on admission (see box). Jarvis' law should be considered in planning service in future mental health centers, which will have smaller catchment areas than most State hos-