Profiling physician practice: a potential for misuse.
Profiling physician practice is not unfamiliar to hospital epidemiologists. Surgeon-specific postoperative wound infection rates have been used to monitor and improve the quality of surgical outcomes. However, concerns for small sample sizes, validity of methods for risk adjustment, and reliability of data collection methods along with other methodologic concerns have resulted in mixed opinions regarding physician profiling as a tool for improving quality of care. In light of pressures for healthcare reform and skepticism regarding physicians' decision making, it is unlikely that methodologic concerns will dissuade regulators and managers from expanding scrutiny of physician practice.
Massanari
R M
RM
Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI.
D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003657:Decision Making; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States