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R W Rutledge

Publications and source records attributed to R W Rutledge.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

A methodology for choosing a physician profiling system: the case of First Option Health Plan.

The public continues to demand improved health care at affordable costs. It appears that this public pressure will force health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other health care providers to face their toughest days in the years to come. They will need to find solutions to resolve this "quality and cost" problem. One method that is likely to have the ability to improve quality of care and control costs is physician profiling. That is, data related to a physician's care or outcomes can be collected and compared with profiles of various populations, for example, other similar providers in a relatively close geographical proximity. This article examines the issues involved in physician profiling, including the characteristics of profiling systems and the direct and indirect benefits of having such a system. Further, the article uses an actual HMO example to discuss considerations that administrators should make when choosing a physician profiling system.

Community Networks↗
PubMed1996

Satisfaction with HMOs. Accessibility issues top the list for patients in commercial groups.

Most complaints about HMOs fall into three broad categories: quality of care, provider attitude, and accessibility to care. Of these, marketers should focus their efforts on the latter. Ensuring that subscribers understand their benefits can help reduce expectations and, therefore, dissatisfaction. Even though accessibility to care (as covered benefits) was very important in contributing to survey respondents' satisfaction with their health care, overall satisfaction did not affect a patient's decision to change physicians and only marginally affected the decision to change HMOs. In the member/provider relationship, the primary care physician may represent a barrier to benefits because he or she has the power to control access under the HMO structure.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cost containment strategies by private hospitals: their effectiveness, importance, and use.

This article presents a study that identifies cost issues and strategies in a highly competitive hospital service area. Specifically, the study seeks to determine the most important cost issues that are currently facing hospitals and to examine the effectiveness of various cost containment strategies. Additionally, the study examines the extent of agreement among hospitals regarding the effectiveness of cost containment strategies. The current study focused on all private hospitals in the Baton Rouge service area. A high degree of consensus was found regarding the importance of cost issues in the service area. One of the more significant findings was the strong agreement that physician involvement (in the category of physician use of resources) was the most important cost issue facing hospitals in the Baton Rouge service area. The group of cost containment strategies with the greatest success related to the issue of budgeting and patient accounts. In particular, electronic billing and the use of collection agencies were favored.

Budgets↗