I've always assumed that practice variation was inevitable; based on the varied needs of the populations, homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population, and differences in environment, the course of one's disease can look extremely different than that of another individual who has the same disease elsewhere.
However different practices may be, I'm still having trouble understanding why reimbursement should them be different. The procedures, if similar, should receive the same reimbursement. This article shows just how much of a business health care is.
Granted, Doctors have to worry about loans, etc, But we shouldn't have to suffer because of it. Stop referring to patients as consumers and your services as goods. Be creative and think of other ways to make money. But don't increase the rates of procedures so that you can turn a profit to help you then pay your loans. Treat the individual first! Worry about reimbursement later.
Weinberg’s book on practice variations was not totally convincing to me. I was constantly trying to find some other reasons for geographical variations like differences in population, in out-patient services, in training. What I think is more important is not the fact that practice patterns vary but the fact that practice patterns change with the changes in reimbursement. The fact that in most states the rate of chemotherapy increased is alarming. And I think it’s not just an associated factor, this is causal-effect relationship. At least it looks like for a beginner in HSR research.
I've always assumed that practice variation was inevitable; based on the varied needs of the populations, homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population, and differences in environment, the course of one's disease can look extremely different than that of another individual who has the same disease elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteHowever different practices may be, I'm still having trouble understanding why reimbursement should them be different. The procedures, if similar, should receive the same reimbursement. This article shows just how much of a business health care is.
Granted, Doctors have to worry about loans, etc, But we shouldn't have to suffer because of it. Stop referring to patients as consumers and your services as goods. Be creative and think of other ways to make money. But don't increase the rates of procedures so that you can turn a profit to help you then pay your loans. Treat the individual first! Worry about reimbursement later.
This is the Health Profession, not a bank!
Weinberg’s book on practice variations was not totally convincing to me. I was constantly trying to find some other reasons for geographical variations like differences in population, in out-patient services, in training.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think is more important is not the fact that practice patterns vary but the fact that practice patterns change with the changes in reimbursement. The fact that in most states the rate of chemotherapy increased is alarming. And I think it’s not just an associated factor, this is causal-effect relationship. At least it looks like for a beginner in HSR research.