Professional integrity in the age of managed care: views of physicians.
At the end of 1997, one quarter of the American public used health maintenance organizations. This paper reports findings on physicians' perspectives on the role of managed care in their professional practices. The research data come from mailed surveys to physicians who are selected from the Cigna Directory of Physicians practicing in the State of Ohio. Subjects were asked to explain what managed care meant to them, and how long they have been practicing medicine. Questions also focused on professional autonomy, quality of care and career aspirations for the future. The results from the study suggest that managed care has had a negative impact on how physicians practice medicine. Several of our respondents reported that they are playing the role of a "double agent" and feel a sense of frustration in doing so. The degree of antipathy toward managed care differs between primary care physicians and specialists.
Quaye
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College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, USA.
D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000639:trends*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors