Misguided surveillance: public actions and medical care assessment.
The public has accused physicians of overusing or misusing ancillary services and clinical laboratory tests, and government agencies have been entrusted to help eliminate performance of these so-called unnecessary services. Here, the author documents the confused and contrary evidence that became the basis of established public policies toward monitoring physician performance or behavior. In next month's issue, the author will examine physicians' roles in medical care assessment.
D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States