Conflict of interest, physicians and physiotherapy.
Since Ontario introduced auto-insurance legislation that guaranteed extensive physiotherapy treatment for people who have been in car accidents, the cost of outpatient claims to insurance companies has skyrocketed. However, there has not been a measurable improvement in patient outcomes. At the same time, the average in-hospital stay for patients receiving hip and joint replacements has decreased greatly. Dr. Murray Waldman thinks these divergent trends in rehabilitation can be attributed to physician self-interest.
Waldman
M
M
St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital North York, Ont.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002170:Canada; D033161:Government Regulation; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018584:Physician Self-Referral; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*