title: Building research capacity into a national physician database.
abstract: The range of physician financial arrangements with managed care and insurers, as well as practice arrangements, is becoming increasingly complex. Little is known systematically about these changes, yet there is growing evidence that financial arrangements, utilization management, and other practice characteristics make a substantial difference in treatment patterns, patient mix, and costs of care. Current data systems and surveys frequently do not capture the new information needed to track these changes. New elements of information should be included in national surveys and in a national physician database. A list of recommended data items for a national data base is provided as a starting point for identifying a minimal data set to be included in national statistical systems.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research and Development Center, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Steinwachs
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003284:Contract Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006077:Government Agencies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009938:Organizations; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States