The effective management of professionals requires achieving a balance between organizational control and professional autonomy. The problem of achieving a balance is important currently in the United States healthcare industry. This dissertation examined the antecedents and consequences of physician autonomy in both traditional fee-for-service (FFS) and non-traditional managed care settings. The population of physicians in one county were surveyed. Two models were developed arguing that physician practice choice affects autonomy. The antecedents and consequences of autonomy were compared both between FFS and managed care practice and between different types of managed care organizations (MCOs). Results indicate that most physicians in the survey area choose managed care practice, and the value physicians place on income is positively associated with the volume of patients from MCOs. FFS practice generated greater autonomy than MCO practice, and autonomy within MCOs positively affected practice satisfaction. Group practice positively affected autonomy within MCOs. Autonomy did not vary across different MCO types but was influenced by the process variables physician decision involvement and organizational formalization, thus suggesting that classifying organizations by autonomy requires knowledge of the processes used in the MCO.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/186498 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Huonker, John Walter. |
| Contributors | Burns, Lawton R., Beach, Lee Roy, Gottfredson, Michael, Powell, Walter F. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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