Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rand Graduate School, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-70). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rand Graduate School, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-70).

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This report provides a broad overview of the health industry, and the dental industry in particular, identifying trends and searching for possible solutions to problems posed by these trends. It attempts to offer perspectives of importance to all the stakeholders in health care - the patients, the providers of care and third party payers. The current focus of healthcare industry is not actually the health of the patient. Practitioners (the providers) focus too much on treatment, while insurance companies and governments (the payers) emphasise cost containment. As national health care costs spiral, it is ironic that the main reasons for the dramatic health improvements over the last few decades are improvements in socio-economic factors and changes in lifestyle, rather than better treatment. The willingness of insurers to cover new or improved services has acted as a continuing stimulus to cost-increasing advances in medical technology and in tum to spending growth. Managed care has evolved to attempt to improve resource allocation in health care. Thirdparty private-sector regulators have wrested power from government regulators. Their gain in power relative to private practitioners has shifted the power balance from the supply side to the demand side of health care. By leveraging their power in the use of information technology, the practitioner has been forced into a defensive, reactive stance. Managed care is being implemented by profit-driven third parties that benefit from the cost savings. As health providers are the ones who have to implement the cost-savings; it is proposed that they are the ones who should manage healthcare. The ideal would be a coordinated approach with funders and service providers working toward a common goal. Financial accountability is forcing dental practitioners to evaluate their mode of practice in a critical manner. Promoting health, by educating and evoking behaviour change will create a better world for current and future generations. There is a shift in focus from the health of the individual at all costs, to the health of the population. There should be a special emphasis on the dental health of children for whom prevention offers the most gain in outcome. Evidence-based care evolved from the search for the best care, in terms of quality and price, outcome and process, and attempts to reduce variability and subjectivity in clinical decisions, by using systematic reviews of quality evidence to increase objectivity. Emphasis on improved outcomes provides earlier, more valuable, long-term improvements for a patient, than the later, short-term benefit of a cure. Because most canes and gum disease is preventable, dental health professionals should accentuate health promotion and education of patients. The benefits would be to the advantage of all stakeholders in health. A focus on prevention for children could be the ideal form of dental private practice to instil oral wellness in children. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verslag is 'n breë oorsig van die gesondsheidsindustrie, en van die tandheelkunde industrie in besonder om tendense te identifiseer en na moontlike oplossing te soek vir probleme wat hieruit mag spruit. Dit poog om perspektiewe aan te bied wat van belang is vir die betrokke rolspelers - die pasiënte, die diensverskaffers en die befondsers. Die huidige fokus van gesondheidsorg is nie eintlik die gesondheid van die pasiënt nie. Die die voorsieners van sorg fokus meestal op behandeling, terwyl versekeringsmaatskappye en die regering (die betalers) fokus op die besnoeing van koste. Terwyl nasionale gesondheidskostes styg, is dit ironies dat die belangrikste redes vir die dramaties verbetering in gesondheid oor die laaste paar dekades eerder verbeteringe in sosioekonomiese faktore en veranderinge in leefwyse is as beter behandeling. Die bereidwilligheid van versekeraars om nuwe en verbeterde dienste te dek, is die oorsaak van die aanhoudende stimulus vir mediese tegnologiese vooruitgang en koste stygings. Bestuurde sorg het ontwikkel om te probeer om bron toewysing in gesondheidsorg te verbeter. Derde party privaatsektor-reguleerders het die mag van regering-reguleerders ontruk. Hul invloed, relatief tot die van privaat praktisyns, het die mags-ewewig verskuif van die voorsienings- na die aanvraagkant van gesondheidsorg. Deur die gebruik van hulle voordeel op die gebied van inligtingstegnologie, het hulle die praktisyn in 'n defensiewe houding gedwing. Bestuurde Gesondheidsorg word beheer deur winsgedrewe derde partye wie baat vind by kostebesparings. Aangesien gesondheidsverskaffers die kostebesparings moet implementeer, word daar aanbeveel dat hulle gesondheidsorg moet bestuur. 'n Gesonde samewerkings ooreenkoms tussen befondsers en diensverskaffers is wenslik. Finansiële verantwoordelikheid dwing tandartse om hulle praktyke krities te evalueer. Daar is 'n fokus verskuiwing vanaf die gesondheid van die individu, ten alle koste, na die gesondheid van die bevolking. Besondere klem behoort geplaas te word op die mondgesondheid van kinders, vir wie voorkoming die meeste baat inhou. Bewys-gebaseerde Gesondheidsorg het ontwikkel uit die soektog na die beste sorg in terme van kwaliteit en koste, uitkoms en proses, en pogings om wisselvalligheid en subjektiwiteit in kliniese besluite te verminder. Klem op beter resultate gee vroeër, meer waardevolle langtermyn verbeteringe vir die pasiënt, as die later kort-termyn voordele van genesing. Omdat tandbederf en tandvleissiektes voorkombaar is, behoort tandheelkundiges die bevordering van mondgesondheid te beklemtoon. Voorkoming by kinders word gesuggereer as die ideale vorm van privaat praktyk om mondgesondheid te bevorder.

Includes bibliographical references. Electronic publication: Full text available in PDF format; abstract in HTML format. Private practice as a career option for nurses has been slowly increasing since the 1980's. However, the reasons for this development have not been fully investigated so that it can be understood and placed within the changing contexts of health care and health services. The expansion and extension of nurses' roles is a contemporary topic in health care reform and therefore one that deserves investigation. The aims of this study were to develop a theory on private practice nursing and to describe the characteristics and work of the self-employed nurse in Australia. Electronic reproduction.[Australia] :Australian Digital Theses Program,2001.xvii, 350 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.

"March 2003." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 340-350). Aims to develop a theory on private practice nursing and to describe the characteristics and work of the self-employed nurse in Australia. Enables nurses to provide direct information on being self-employed and enhances the profession's ability to articulate about this area of nursing. Results suggest that private practice nursing can contribute effectively to broadening the range of primary health services available to the population and to addressing the issues of retention and recruitment of nurses. Self-employed nurse entrepreneurs push the boundaries of the profession and expand the realm of nursing practice.

Private practice as a career option for nurses has been slowly increasing since the 1980's. However, the reasons for this development have not been fully investigated so that it can be understood and placed within the changing contexts of health care and health services. The expansion and extension of nurses' roles is a contemporary topic in health care reform and therefore one that deserves investigation. The aims of this study were to develop a theory on private practice nursing and to describe the characteristics and work of the self-employed nurse in Australia. Nurses working in a variety of settings have been able to provide information on being self-employed. In doing so, this study was able to describe the persona of the nurse entrepreneur, explore the reasons why nurses and midwives in Australia establish private fee-for-service practices, identify the factors which have influenced this action and describe the scope of practice of nurses and midwives in private practice. This combined Delphi technique and Grounded Theory study is the first in-depth study of Australian nurses and midwives in private practice. The study enables nurses to provide direct information on being self-employed and enhances the profession's ability to articulate about this area of nursing. The significance of the research is in increasing the understanding of this area of practice development and affords greater insight into its efforts to improve and maintain quality nursing services within the Australian health care system. One hundred and six nurses and midwives were invited to participate in the study, in which participants completed two rounds of semi-structured postal questionnaires. Delphi technique was applied to rate responses on Likert scales to ascertain respondents' consensus on certain topics. Participants were also provided the opportunity to make additional comments. Results indicated that nurses in private practice are well experienced with an average of 21 years nursing experience and hold several qualifications. Job satisfaction, being able to be more involved in achieving quality health outcomes and maximising skills and abilities are significant influences for private practice. These results suggest that private practice nursing can contribute effectively to broadening the range of primary health services available to the population and to addressing the issues of retention and recruitment of nurses. Self-employed nurse entrepreneurs push the boundaries of the profession and expand the realm of nursing practice. Entrepreneurship is a path for the future of nursing as it offers expanded career opportunities for nurses and opportunities for increased ambulatory health services. In addition, the broad, expert knowledge nurses hold on many aspects of health can be disseminated throughout the health sector to the advantage of corporate health partners. There is further development required in this innovative and expanding area of the nursing profession. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Clinical Nursing, 2003.

Professional research project (Au.D.)--University of South Florida, 2001. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 29 pages. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: The primary objective of the project was to survey audiologists in clinical practice setting to determine the amount of time taken to perform various audiologic tests using Current Procedural Terminology, (CPT) codes to define these tests and if these CPT codes were felt to be adequate. Audiologists were also asked to respond regarding possible impact and reimbursement changes in their clinical practices related to managed care. Responses of audiologists were analyzed to determine: a) adequacy of CPT codes; b)average time to perform various audiologic tests; c) impact managed care onclinical practice; and d) changes in reimbursement as a result of managed care. / The survey was designed to determine the type of work setting, typical job duty, average monthly caseload and hours per day spent on patient care for each respondent. The survey with a cover letter explaining the purpose was mailed to 93 audiologists in clinical setting in the state of Florida. Five were returned undeliverable, and 39 of the remaining 88 were returned either completed or partially completed. The survey results revealed over 71% of the audiologists felt the current CPT codes were adequate. Time spent performing traditional audiologic tests, such as comprehensive audiometric evaluations and impedance testing, was fairly consistent. / Greater time variability occurred in tests used to determine vestibular function. Over three-quarters of the respondents believed managed care has had a negative impact on their clinical practices, while 11% believe they have been positively impacted. Approximately 82% of the audiologists have had reductions in reimbursement as a result of managed care, while 10% have seen no change and 5% have enjoyed slightly greater reimbursement. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Private practice as a career option for nurses has been slowly increasing since the 1980's. However, the reasons for this development have not been fully investigated so that it can be understood and placed within the changing contexts of health care and health services. The expansion and extension of nurses' roles is a contemporary topic in health care reform and therefore one that deserves investigation. The aims of this study were to develop a theory on private practice nursing and to describe the characteristics and work of the self-employed nurse in Australia. Nurses working in a variety of settings have been able to provide information on being self-employed. In doing so, this study was able to describe the persona of the nurse entrepreneur, explore the reasons why nurses and midwives in Australia establish private fee-for-service practices, identify the factors which have influenced this action and describe the scope of practice of nurses and midwives in private practice. This combined Delphi technique and Grounded Theory study is the first in-depth study of Australian nurses and midwives in private practice. The study enables nurses to provide direct information on being self-employed and enhances the profession's ability to articulate about this area of nursing. The significance of the research is in increasing the understanding of this area of practice development and affords greater insight into its efforts to improve and maintain quality nursing services within the Australian health care system. One hundred and six nurses and midwives were invited to participate in the study, in which participants completed two rounds of semi-structured postal questionnaires. Delphi technique was applied to rate responses on Likert scales to ascertain respondents' consensus on certain topics. Participants were also provided the opportunity to make additional comments. Results indicated that nurses in private practice are well experienced with an average of 21 years nursing experience and hold several qualifications. Job satisfaction, being able to be more involved in achieving quality health outcomes and maximising skills and abilities are significant influences for private practice. These results suggest that private practice nursing can contribute effectively to broadening the range of primary health services available to the population and to addressing the issues of retention and recruitment of nurses. Self-employed nurse entrepreneurs push the boundaries of the profession and expand the realm of nursing practice. Entrepreneurship is a path for the future of nursing as it offers expanded career opportunities for nurses and opportunities for increased ambulatory health services. In addition, the broad, expert knowledge nurses hold on many aspects of health can be disseminated throughout the health sector to the advantage of corporate health partners. There is further development required in this innovative and expanding area of the nursing profession. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Clinical Nursing, 2003.