Perceptions of medical school seniors of the current changes in the U.S. health care system.
Perceptions of medical school seniors about changes occurring in the health care environment were investigated. A survey was completed by 196 Jefferson Medical College seniors in the class of 1997. Of the respondents, 79% believed that cost reduction rather than quality of care is the primary consideration behind recent changes, 78% felt that managed care organizations hamper physicians' abilities to render optimal care, 83% maintained that the control of health care by insurance companies would lead to lower quality of care, 69% agreed that patients should have the freedom to seek a specialist's care without being referred by a primary care physician, 82% recommended that mentally ill patients should be referred to a mental health professional, and 82% believed that learning to work in a managed care environment should be an essential component of medical education. Assessment of student perceptions can assist in the development and implementation of appropriate curricular changes.
Hojat
M
M
Jefferson Medical College, USA.
Veloski
J J
JJ
Louis
D Z
DZ
Xu
G
G
Ibarra
D
D
Gottlieb
J E
JE
Erdmann
J B
JB
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003363:Cost Control; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States