Effect of Speciality on Primary Care Practice in an HMO. Abstract, Executive211 Summary and Final Report

摘要

This prospective study examined whether specialty training of primary care211u001ephysicians (PCPs) affects practice style, resource utilization, quality or costs 211u001eof care within a large group model HMO (Kaiser Permanente, Northern California), 211u001ewhere practice culture is strong and relatively uniform. Subspecialty internists, 211u001egeneral internists, and family physicians were compared by sampling, surveying, 211u001eand following 16,109 of their adult patients. Survey data (demographics, health 211u001estatus, patient values, satisfaction with PCP) were collected in Fall, 1995 and 211u001elinked with automated utilization and cost information for the following year.