Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) play an important role in providing surgical and diagnostic services in an outpatient setting. They can be owned by physicians who staff them. Previous studies focused on patient “cherry picking” and over-utilization of services due to physician ownership. Few studies examined the relationship between physician ownership and quality of care. Using a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent colonoscopy, this study examined the effect of physician ownership of ASCs on the occurrence of adverse events after outpatient colonoscopy. Agency theory is used to as a conceptual framework. Depending on the extent to which consumers are able to assess quality of care differences across health care settings, physician ownership can function as a mechanism to improve quality or as a deterrent to quality. Four adverse event measures are used in this study: same day ED visit or hospitalization, 30-day serious gastrointestinal events resulting in ED visit or hospitalization, 30-day other gastrointestinal events resulting in ED visit or hospitalization, and 30-day non-gastrointestinal events resulting in ED visit or hospitalization. Physician ownership status is determined based on a court decision in California in 2007. Data sources include the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD), State Inpatient Databases (SID), Emergency Department Databases (SEDD), State Utilization Data Files, the Area Resource File (ARF), and HMO/PPO data from Health Leaders. After controlling for confounding factors, the study found that colonoscopy patients treated at a physician-owned ASC had similar odds of experiencing same day ED visit or hospitalization and 30-day non-gastrointestinal events resulting in ED visit or hospitalization as those treated in a hospital-based outpatient facility. But the former had significantly higher odds of experiencing 30-day serious gastrointestinal events and 30-day other gastrointestinal events resulting in ED visit or hospitalization. The results are robust to changes in propensity score adjustment approach and to the inclusion of a lagged quality indicator. They suggest that physician ownership of ASCs was not associated with better quality of care for colonoscopy patients. As more complex procedures are shifted from hospital-based outpatient facilities to ASCs, expanded efforts to monitor and report quality of care will be worthwhile.

acase@tulane.edu

Abstract not available

由於目前世界上已實施健康保險制度的國家均面臨到醫療費用不斷上漲的問題，導致保險財務難以負荷。根據許多研究皆發現一合理的醫療支付制度不僅可以改善財務之虧損，也足以影響到醫療服務的品質。 　　本論文主要是以勞保局所核付的六種眼、耳鼻喉疾病為研究對象，探討醫師對其診療行為的差異性，同時探討影響此差異性的因素；接著探討勞保甲乙丙表的實施對醫師診療行為的影響，最後加入醫師的薪資制度因素，一起探討對醫師診療行為的影響。而本研究最終的目的是要藉由對過去所實施的勞保支付制度的影響進行研究，以作為全民健保在制定醫療支付標準時的參考。 　　本研究的結果發現： 　　1.醫院特性（級別、屬性別）對各項醫療費用的影響十分顯著，反而病人特性（年齡、性別）對各項醫療費用的影響並不是非常顯著。 　　2.勞保甲乙丙表的實施，對於某些項目因支付標準的提高，使得本研究中的六種疾病在病房費、檢查費、手術費及費用合計方面，大多數都有明顯地上升；而藥品因取消依進價加成的支付方式，改以進價支付，且再支付定額的藥事服務費，故大多數疾病的藥劑費都有明顯地下降。 　　3.六種疾病的住院日皆有逐漸縮短的趨勢，對於醫療費用的節省而言，的確是一個好現象。 　　4.醫師薪資制度對六種疾病的住院日數及各項醫療費用皆有顯著性的影響，但由於調查各醫院醫師薪資制度的問卷設計在薪資制度的分類上未盡詳細，以致於所作的結果無法顯現出薪資制度對六種疾病有一致性的影響。 　　針對本研究的結果，提出幾點建議供後續研究者作為參考： 　　1.本研究的結果在藥劑費方面雖有明顯地下降，但未進一步探討病人在用藥數量及藥劑注射的情況是否有所改善，將來可針對此作進一步的探究。 　　2.本研究由於資料的限制度，無法將醫院特性間，以及與薪資制度間的交互作用納入複迴歸模式中，因此將來若有充分的資料，便可將這些一併考慮進去，使得迴歸模式更完整，結果更具說服力。

Includes bibliography (leaves 249-291). / xxiv, 291, [52] leaves : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Discusses and evaluates the role of intra-operative ultrasound in colorectal surgery ; techniques of laparoscopic surgery and the impact on the incidence of hypothermia during surgery ; advanced prognostic techniques in colorectal cancer ; the impact of ambulatory anorectal surgery ; and, the potential of an information video to decrease the anxiety of patients through imparting essential information to patients. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Surgery, 1999

Patients and next of kin in intensive care often experience powerlessness, anxiety and distress and intensive care staff are repeatedly exposed to traumatic situations and demanding events. Empowerment has been described as a process of overcoming a sense of powerlessness and a model through which people may develop a sense of inner strength through connections with others. The aim of this thesis was to describe empowerment as experienced by patients, next of kin and staff in intensive care and to compare patient's experiences with staff and next of kin beliefs. Empowerment is reflected in this thesis as experiences of inner strength and power and of participation/self-determination. The study was based on open-ended interviews with 11 patients, 12 next of kin and 12 staff members from two intensive care units in southern Sweden. A phenomenological perspective was applied in three studies, while a qualitative content analysis was used in the forth study. Findings showed that nourishing relationships were of crucial importance, and contributed to every participant's experiences of empowerment regardless of whether he/she was an intensive care patient, a next of kin or a staff member. Patients were found to be strengthened and empowered by a positive environment where their own inherent joy of life and will to fight was stimulated, where they felt safe and a sense of value and motivation were encouraged and where they were taken seriously and listened to. Next of kin were extremely important to patients' experiences of safety, value, human warmth and motivation, and patients were strengthened when their next of kin were acknowledge and welcomed by staff. Next of kin in intensive care were strengthened and empowered by a caring atmosphere in which they received continuous, straightforward and honest information that left room for some hope and in which closeness to the patient was facilitated and medical care was experienced as the best possible. Some informants were also empowered by family support and/or participation in caring for the patient. Intensive care staff were empowered by both internal processes such as feelings of doing good, increased self-esteem/self-confidence and increased knowledge and skills, and by external processes such as nourishing meetings, excitement and challenge, well functioning teamwork and good atmosphere. When comparing patient experiences with staff and next of kin beliefs, there was agreement regarding joy of life and will to fight being essential to patients' experiences of inner strength and power, but staff and next of kin seemed to see this as a more constant individual viewpoint or characteristic than the patient did. Next of kin, and especially staff, seemed to regard the patient as more unconscious and unable to participate in the communication and interaction process than the patient him/herself experienced. A mutual and friendly relationship was experienced by the patients as highly empowering, while a more professional relationship was emphasized by the staff. These findings could serve as a basis for reflection about patient, next of kin and staff experiences of strength and power and if empowerment is seen as a dimension in quality of care, the findings from this thesis ought to be taken into consideration to increase the quality of care in intensive care. / Patienter och närstående inom intensivvård upplever ofta maktlöshet, oro och inre stress. Upplevelser från intensivvårdstiden har visat sig kunna påverka patienters och närståendes psykologiska välbefinnande under lång tid, även efter det fysiska tillfrisknadet. Intensivvårdspersonal utsätts mer eller mindre frekvent för svåra och traumatiska händelser, vilket kan orsaka stress och utbrändhetssymtom. Empowerment har beskrivits som en process för att övervinna upplevelser av maktlöshet eller en modell genom vilken människor kan utveckla en känsla av inre styrka. Syftet med denna avhandling var att beskriva patienters, närståendes och personals upplevelser av empowerment inom intensivvård. Syftet var också att jämföra patienters upplevelser med vad närstående och personal tror att de upplever. Med empowerment avses här upplevelser av inre kraft och styrka samt av delaktighet/självbestämmande. Avhandlingen är baserad på öppna intervjuer med 11 patienter, 12 närstående och 12 personal vid två intensivvårdsavdelningar i södra Sverige. Alla intensivvårdspatienter upplevde att den egna livsgnistan och kämparvilja var avgörande för deras upplevelser av inre kraft och styrka och inverkade på deras möjlighet att tillfriskna. Livsgnistan och kämparviljan påverkades i sin tur av vad som hände runt omkring patienterna. En positiv atmosfär där de kände sig trygga, betydelsefulla och blev lyssnade på, stärkte deras livsgnista och kämparvilja, liksom extra omsorg, uppmuntran och stärkt motivation. Närstående spelade en viktig roll i att förstärka patienternas upplevelser av trygghet, värde och motivation och öka deras upplevelse av inre kraft och styrka. Atmosfären hade stor betydelse för närståendes upplevelser av kraft och styrka och de påverkades mer av hur något utfördes än av vad som utfördes. Det var viktigt för närstående att känna att det fanns både en kapacitet och en vilja att hjälpa och lindra och de upplevde det stärkande att känna att personalen brydde sig såväl om patienten som om dem. En kontinuerlig, rak och ärlig information som lämnade rum för hopp, tillsammans med möjlighet att få vara nära den svårt sjuke familjemedlemmen samt en upplevelse av att patienten fick bästa möjliga medicinska vård, upplevdes av närstående som stärkande. Några stärktes även av stöd från andra familjemedlemmar och av att få vara delaktiga i vården. Vårdpersonalen fick kraft och styrka både av interna och externa processer. Exempel på stärkande interna processer var upplevelsen av att göra gott, av att ha kunskaper och färdigheter för att klara de uppgifter och utmaningar man ställdes inför, samt av att känna sig trygg både i sig själv (självkänsla) och i det man gjorde (självförtroende). Närande möten med närstående och patienter, spänning och utmaningar, välfungerande teamarbete och en positiv atmosfär är exempel på externa processer som bidrog till personalens upplevelse av inre kraft och styrka. När patienternas upplevelser jämfördes med vad närstående och personal trodde att de upplevde, fanns en samsyn i att patienternas egen livsgnista och kämparvilja hade stor betydelse för deras upplevelse av kraft och styrka. Närstående och personal betraktade emellertid patientens livsgnista och kämparvilja som ett tämligen statiskt karaktärsdrag, medan patienterna själva menade att livsgnistan och kämparviljan i hög utsträckning påverkades av atmosfären runt omkring dem och av hur de blev bemötta. Närstående och personal, tycktes betrakta patienterna som mer omedvetna och oförmögna att kommunicera och samverka med omgivningen än vad patienterna själva upplevde. Patienterna upplevde det som ytterst stärkande när de fick känna sig som medlemmar i vårdteamet och inte ”bara som en patient”.

The general practitioner has a central position in the health care system, but demands have increased and there are signs of exhaustion in the corps. Patient-centredness is beneficial for the patients and probably for the outcome of health care. In Balint groups general practitioners study and gain further understanding of the physician-patient relationship by means of the participants’ own experiences. This thesis aims at studying experienced effects of Balint groups on the working life of general practitioners. General practitioners with and without Balint group experience are compared by means of a questionnaire, using statistical methods. General practitioners with Balint group experience are interviewed. Both these studies show positive experiences of Balint group participation in the physicians’ working life in terms of feeling of control and satisfaction, and on relations to patients, particularly patients with complex problems. A new instrument for measuring physicians’ degree of patient-centredness is presented. It can be used in groups of physicians to evaluate training programmes or by the individual physician to detect decline in patient-centredness as an early sign of burnout. Balint groups are viewed critically in interviews with Balint group leaders, focussed on difficulties and dropouts from the groups. Balint groups are found to fit into modern theories of small groups as complex systems, submitted to group dynamics that are sometimes malicious. Professionally conducted Balint groups seem to be a gentle, efficient method to train physicians, but with limits. Participation of a member demands a stable psychological condition and an open mind, and obligatory Balint groups are questioned. The thesis concludes that Balint groups are generally beneficial for general practitioners’ working life as a means to enable the physicians endure, even thrive in their job. The method facilitates development of new understanding of the physician-patient relationship with possible positive effects for the patient as well.

Bakgrund: Antalet äldre ökar vilket utgör en stor utmaning för samhället. Nationella satsningar pågår för att åstadkomma en sammanhållen vård och omsorg för de multisjuka äldre. Syfte: Att beskriva primärvårdsläkares och kommunala sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av samverkan för multisjuka äldre i ordinärt boende samt vilka faktorer de anser viktiga för att förebygga inläggning i slutenvården. Metod: Kvalitativ metod med fokusgruppsintervjuer där sammanlagt 15 sjuksköterskor och läkare deltog. Materialet analyserades med systematisk textkondensering. Resultat: Informanterna anser att flera faktorer påverkar om de multisjuka äldre kan vårdas kvar hemma, samverkan mellan primärvårdsläkare och kommunala sjuksköterskor utgör en viktig del men ansvaret för en allt högre medicinsk nivå i ordinärt boende kräver också andra resurser. En medicinsk vårdplanering underlättar men eftersom de mest sjuka äldres tillstånd snabbt kan förändras behöver de regelbundna hembesök. Detta är en förutsättning för att den medicinska säkerheten ska tryggas, särskilt efter utskrivning från slutenvården.  En utebliven planering och bristande information till patient och närstående ökar risken för sjukhusinläggningar som hade kunnat undvikas. Med ytterligare ersättning för att prioritera multisjuka äldre kan fler hembesök göras. De multisjuka äldres speciella behov ställer ökade krav på personalens kompetens.  Slutsats: Det finns ett engagemang för de multisjuka äldre och förslag på lösningar för att undvika slutenvård och återinläggningar både inom den egna organisation och i samverkan med vårdgrannar. De satsningar som görs nationellt och lokalt behöver utformas tillsammans med de läkare och sjuksköterskor som är närmast patienten för att tillvarata deras kompetens och erfarenhet. Först då kan rätt satsningar komma de multisjuka äldre till del. / Background: The ageing population has increased, which is a major challenge. National efforts are underway to develop coherent care for frail old people. Objective: To describe primary care physicians and community nurses' experiences of interaction for frail old people in home care, and the factors they consider important in preventing readmission. Methods: Qualitative methodology with focus groups involving 15 nurses and doctors. The material was analysed with systematic text condensation. Results: The informants consider that many factors determine whether the frail old people can stay in home care, collaboration between physicians and nurses is important but the responsibility for an increasing medical level in home care also require other resources. A medical healthcare planning facilitates but the frail old patient’s medical condition may change rapidly, regular home visits are needed. This is a prerequisite to ensure medical safety, particularly after discharge from inpatient care. Lack of planning and information to patients and their relatives increases the risk of readmission that could have been avoided. With additional compensation to prioritize the frail elderly, more home visits can be made. The frail old people’s special needs places increased demands on the staff skills. Conclusion: There is a commitment to the frail old people and suggestions for ways to avoid hospitalization and readmissions both within their own organization and in collaboration with healthcare neighbours. The efforts that are being made nationally and locally need to be in collaboration with the doctors and nurses who are closest to the patient to benefit from their skills and experiences. Only then, the right ventures can be made to benefit the frail old people.

Hintergrund: Es ist bislang unklar, inwieweit etablierte Scores zur Abschätzung des kardiovaskulären Risikos (PROCAM-Score, Framingham-Score, ESC-Score Deutschland) untereinander sowie mit der subjektiven Arzteinschätzung übereinstimmen. Methodik: An einer bundesrepräsentativen Stichprobe von 8 957 Hausarztpatienten im Alter von 40–65 Jahren ohne bekannte vorangegangene kardiovaskuläre Ereignisse wurde mittels unterschiedlicher Methoden das Risiko bestimmt, innerhalb der nächsten 10 Jahre einen Herzinfarkt oder Herztod zu erleiden. Ergebnisse: Das mittlere koronare 10-Jahres-Morbiditätsrisiko wurde mit dem PROCAM-Score auf 4,9% und mit dem Framingham-Score auf 10,1% geschätzt, das mittlere kardiovaskuläre 10-Jahres-Mortalitätsrisiko mit dem ESC-Score auf 2,9%. Die behandelnden Ärzte klassifizierten nur 2,7% der Patienten als kardiovaskuläre Hochrisikofälle. Nach Framingham wurden die meisten Patienten in die Hochrisikokategorie eingeordnet (22,6%). Bezüglich der Risikokategorisierung ergab sich eine nur moderate Übereinstimmung zwischen den drei Scores (bei 34% aller Risikofälle). Bei 5,9% der Patienten kamen die drei Scores zu einer komplett unterschiedlichen Risikobewertung. Den nach den verschiedenen Risikoscores in die Hochrisikogruppe kategorisierten Patienten wurde von den behandelnden Ärzten nur in ca. 8% der Fälle ebenfalls ein hohes kardiovaskuläres Risiko zugeordnet, in ca. 48% ein mittleres Risiko und in 41–46% (je nach Score) ein geringes Risiko. Schlussfolgerung: Die Methoden ergeben nur eine relativ geringe Übereinstimmung in der Beurteilung von Risikopatienten. Besonders niedrig fällt die Übereinstimmung bei der Hochrisikogruppe mit der Einschätzung der klinischen Risikoprädiktion durch den behandelnden Hausarzt aus. Die erhebliche Abweichung zur Arztbeurteilung scheint anzudeuten, dass die etablierten Risikoscores in der Praxis derzeit einen nur eingeschränkten praktischen Stellenwert besitzen. Welche der Vorhersagen mit dem tatsächlichen Risiko am besten übereinstimmen, wird derzeit mit den prospektiven DETECT-Studiendaten geprüft.

Objectives. The objective of this project was to ascertain and quantify the effects of gender, age, payment method, and practice size on clinical output of GP/FPs. While the identification of these effects has been undertaken previously, this study is the first attempt to quantify the proportion of variance in physician output explained by this group of variables.<p>Background. The question is of vital importance to academics, health professionals, and citizens. The physician population is aging and feminizing while physicians are softening their opposition to fixed remuneration methods and displaying a greater predilection to group practice. Implications exist for the supply of physician services as gender, age, payment method, and practice size have been found to influence physician output, and therefore the availability of primary care services. <p>Methods. The study employed self-reported data obtained from 1006 Canadian general and family practitioners in 2004. Respondents provided their gender, age, payment method, and practice size, as well as the number of patient visits they conducted (both during regular hours and while on call) and the number of hours they worked in an average week. These data were used to measure the effects of the four independent variables on GP/FP output and to quantify their total collective affect. <p>Results. By and large, the analysis confirmed the prevailing view of the literature, as female physicians; physicians in the youngest and oldest age categories; physicians remunerated mainly through fixed payment methods; and physicians in group practice reported lower levels of output than their counterparts. Despite the presence of obvious trends in the data, in some cases the analysis was unable to uncover statistically significant differences in output between groups of physicians.<p>In terms of the contribution made by these four variables to the variance in GP/FP output, significant and parsimonious models contributed 16.2% of the variance in total patient visits, 19.3% of the variance in patient visits during regular hours, 2.5% of the variance in patient visits while on call, 11.1% of variance in hours worked per week, and 8.9% of the variance in patient visits per hour worked. <p>Conclusion. The four factor variables explained less than one fifth of the variance in all output categories. This first attempt to quantify their contribution identifies an important question: what accounts for the remaining variance? If the unidentified factors are measurable, perhaps they can be added to these models in the future in order to increase our understanding of the forces behind GP/FP output of primary care services.