. As patients are more likely to seek care closer to their location, the density of the patient population near a service center is likely to be higher. However, as distance increases, patients may be less likely to travel to that service center, leading to a decrease in the density of the patient population further away. This suggests that the sphere of influence of a service center is limited by distance and the resulting frictional effects. It is important for healthcare providers to consider the geographical distribution of patients when planning the location of service centers to ensure optimal access and utilization of healthcare services.
