Analyzing Physician Efficiency: Per-Capita Scoring

How does one evaluate a physician’s efficiency level?  This process has five main dimensions. Which resource use measurement methodology to use. There are two main profiling methodologies: per capita and episode-based. How to account for differences in patient health status. This is done through risk adjustment.  However, choosing the proper risk adjustment method is crucial…

Defining Healthcare ‘Value’

People today want high quality health care at lower cost (to be honest, people throughout history have always wanted better quality and lower cost).  However, defining the ‘value’ of medical services is not easy.  In fact, it is often difficult for companies to demonstrate to customers that they provide superior value.  Joe Paduda has a…

Episode-Based Performance Measures: A reality?

Pay-for-performance has become very fashionable of late. One way to measure physician performance is with episode groupers. This software groups together some or all of the services related to the care of a patient’s chronic or acute medical conditions. Policymakers can then use the episode as the unit of observation for: feedback on physician performance,…

Why Physician Report Cards don’t work

A paper by Hofer et al. (JAMA 1999) looked at the reliability of physician report cards having to do with diabetes treatment.  The authors looked at variability across physicians in the number of physician visits and hospitalizations among diabetic patients.  They found: Other factors affect hospitalization more than physician care. “For profiles based on hospitalization…

Tips on Patient Care

In an article called “That Loving Feeling,”  Judy Capko gives some tips for providers on how to treat patients.  Some gems include: “A sign in sheet is an excuse to ignore patients.” Nurses and receptionists need to introduce themselves.  Otherwise, patients just feel if they are another name in the schedule. Ambience makes a difference.…