title: Variations in referrals to consultants: a study of general practitioners' characteristics in southern Israel.
abstract: The rate at which primary physicians refer patients to consultants varies considerably, not only within different regions, but also among practices within defined areas. Differences also have been identified between doctors within the same practice. This variation in referral rates is a source of concern because of the costs generated and implications for quality and quantity of care. Many studies that tried to identify the sources for this variation explained only part of it; however, these studies were based on small numbers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elhayany
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shvartzman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regev
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reuveni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabenkin
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis