Physicians' Use of Ambulatory Care Resources in a Prepaid Group Practice HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

摘要

The study examined the extent of variation in Physician Behavior concerning the use of Outpatient Medical Care Resources in a large Prepaid Group Practice HMO. The study encompassed physicians form Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Obstenics/Gynecology. Extensive Physician Characteristics Data were employed in the Analysis Physicians found to be high, medium or low users in year old tended to maintain those positions over the three study years. Physician specifically explained about 70 percent of the bariation. Surprisingly, high physician outpatient use was positively correlated with hospital admission rates. Outpatient resource use was also significantly associated with years sense graduation, medical school, current involvement in medical education, years cover the HMO, influence and leadership with the HMO attitudes toward patients and workload, and being a patients regular doctor. Few non-medical factors were found to be statistically significant. Numerous appendixes are provided which explain the methods used including a Drug Relative Value System.