Physician's production of primary care in Ontario, Canada.
This paper examines the factors affecting the number of patient visits per week reported by family physicians in Ontario. The way that a physician is paid is potentially endogenous to the number of patients seen per week, thus an instrumental variable method of estimation is employed to account for the endogeneity bias. Once account is taken of the endogeneity of remuneration as well as relevant physician and practice characteristics, the estimated elasticity of output with respect to hours worked is 0.74; 0.68 in group practices and 0.82 in solo practices. Physicians paid on a non-fee-for-service (NFFS) conduct 15-31% fewer patient visits per week in comparison to those paid under an FFS scheme. Certain patient populations in practices affect patient visits in important ways, as do a number of physician and practice characteristics.
Sarma
Sisira
S
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5C1. ssarma2@uwo.ca
Devlin
Rose Anne
RA
Hogg
William
W
D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics; D004526:Efficiency; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000191:economics; D006123:Group Practice / Q000191:economics; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics; D009864:Ontario; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000191:economics; D016526:Workload / Q000191:economics