Is there room for managed care in Canada? A preliminary inquiry of physicians.
Managed care, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States, is virtually absent in Canada. Yet managed care, if implemented judiciously, has the potential to provide comprehensive, high quality care while containing spiraling healthcare expenditures. Managed care is also the foundation of integrated health systems, which have been widely discussed during the past few years. Then why has Canada been so slow to accept managed care? Since physicians have a great deal of influence on how healthcare is ultimately delivered, a group of Ontario physicians was surveyed to determine their perceptions of managed care. It was found that physicians were knowledgeable about the cost-containment capabilities of managed care but had misperceptions about managed care with respect to quality of patient care, preventive services and necessary medical care. Education and further research are recommended so that any debate about managed care, integrated systems or alternative physician payment can be meaningful, objective, beneficial and accurate.
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Michael G. DeGroote Schoole of Business, McMaster University.
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D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003363:Cost Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires