Abstract
Objective: The purposes of this study are to explore: (1) the factors of preventing primary care physicians from joining group practice (2) the factors of encouraging primary care physicians to join group practice and (3) the applicable model of group practice for primary care physicians.
Methods: This study used on-site interviews and focus groups to collected data. In total, four focus groups including two in Taipei, one in Taichung, and one in Tainan were held during the period of October to November 2001. The subjects participating focus groups were the members of the Chinese Primary Care Association.
Results: The factors prevent the primary care physicians from joining the group practices are as follows: (1) the inadequate sources of patients (2) the regulations of the National Health Insurance; (3) the calculation of the reasonable number of outpatient services 4) the current tax regulations; (5) the competition from hospital ambulatory center; (6) the inadequate number of outpatient surgery 7) the high fixed costs; and (8) the inadequate experience with the group practice in Taiwan. The factors that encourage the primary care physicians to join the group practice are: (1) to increase the reimbursed rate for the primary care; (2) to simplify the procedures of the supportive physicians (3) to clarify the current tax regulations; (4) to increase the number of outpatient surgery paid by the NHI; (5) to loosen the limited number of labs; (6) to provide the loan for physicians who are willing join the group practice; and (7) to amend the regulations about the group practice. The applicable model for the group practice includes: (1) ownership: hospital-owned group practice model is preferred; (2) number of physician: 2 to 3 physicians in a group practice is favored; (3) management: managed by physicians is desired; (4) expenses for medical equipment: shared by the physicians who used the machines; (5) revenue: most physicians have a preference of fixed income/production based; and (6) supportive physicians: physicians considered the sources of supportive physicians should come from other clinics; (7) supplemental equipments: physicians preferred d pharmacy, lab, ultrasound, EKO, and x-ray.
Conclusions: The willingness of the primary care physicians can be elevated by amending the regulations and reimbursed policies in relation to the group practice.
Methods: This study used on-site interviews and focus groups to collected data. In total, four focus groups including two in Taipei, one in Taichung, and one in Tainan were held during the period of October to November 2001. The subjects participating focus groups were the members of the Chinese Primary Care Association.
Results: The factors prevent the primary care physicians from joining the group practices are as follows: (1) the inadequate sources of patients (2) the regulations of the National Health Insurance; (3) the calculation of the reasonable number of outpatient services 4) the current tax regulations; (5) the competition from hospital ambulatory center; (6) the inadequate number of outpatient surgery 7) the high fixed costs; and (8) the inadequate experience with the group practice in Taiwan. The factors that encourage the primary care physicians to join the group practice are: (1) to increase the reimbursed rate for the primary care; (2) to simplify the procedures of the supportive physicians (3) to clarify the current tax regulations; (4) to increase the number of outpatient surgery paid by the NHI; (5) to loosen the limited number of labs; (6) to provide the loan for physicians who are willing join the group practice; and (7) to amend the regulations about the group practice. The applicable model for the group practice includes: (1) ownership: hospital-owned group practice model is preferred; (2) number of physician: 2 to 3 physicians in a group practice is favored; (3) management: managed by physicians is desired; (4) expenses for medical equipment: shared by the physicians who used the machines; (5) revenue: most physicians have a preference of fixed income/production based; and (6) supportive physicians: physicians considered the sources of supportive physicians should come from other clinics; (7) supplemental equipments: physicians preferred d pharmacy, lab, ultrasound, EKO, and x-ray.
Conclusions: The willingness of the primary care physicians can be elevated by amending the regulations and reimbursed policies in relation to the group practice.
| Translated title of the contribution | Qualitative Study of the Willingness of the Primary Care Physicians to Join the Group Practice and Its Applicable Model |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Pages (from-to) | 58-69 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | 醫務管理期刊 |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2002 |