PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W F Seward

Publications and source records attributed to W F Seward.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Health plan accountability: state and federal initiatives.

Patients' rights legislation is high on the agenda of more than a few legislators this year, both nationally and at the state level. Although many proposals are being considered by state and federal lawmakers, one of the more significant legislative measures under debate would hold health plans legally accountable for medical treatment decisions they make, control, or influence. Of course, under the current professional liability system, only physicians and hospitals are legally responsible for the quality of patient care. Not surprisingly, then, the expansion of professional liability law to include managed care organizations (MCOs) is a contentious issue.

Insurance Coverage↗
PubMed1997

Trends in specialty certification.

From 1980 to 1996, 334,597 certificates were issued by the 24 specialty boards. Of these certificates, 164,728 (49.2%) were issued in primary care specialties, 100,981 (30.2%) were certificates in the other medical specialties, and 68,888 (20.5%) were certificates in the surgical specialties. The figure above illustrates the changes that have occurred in the pool of board-certified physicians from 1980 to 1996. For the years reported, the number of certificates issued in the primary care specialties and in the other medical specialties has consistently exceeded those in the surgical specialties. It is clear that the pool of board-certified surgeons as a percentage of the total pool of board-certified physicians has declined. In 1980, the total number of certificates issued by the 24 specialty boards was 16,034, with surgical specialty certificates accounting for 23.8 percent of that number. By 1996, surgical specialty certificates accounted for 16.7 percent of the 26,462 certificates issued by the 24 boards. In 1980, 1986, 1989, 1995, and 1996 primary care specialty certificates accounted for more than 50 percent of the total number of certificates issued by the 24 specialty boards in those years. Given the substantial growth in the number of certificates in the primary care and other medical specialties depicted in the figure, certificates in the surgical specialties as a percentage of the total number of certificates has remained stable.

Certification↗
PubMed1995

Trends in specialty certification.

From 1980 to 1994, 283,024 certificates were issued by the 23 specialty boards. Of these certificates, 137,852 (48.7%) were issued in primary care specialties, 84,993 (30.0%) were certificates in the other medical specialties, and 60,179 (21.2%) were certificates in the surgical specialties. The figure on page 26 illustrates the changes that have occurred in the pool of board-certified physicians from 1980 to 1994. Since 1980, the number of certificates issued in the primary care specialties and the number of certificates issued in the other medical specialties has consistently exceeded those issued in the surgical specialties. In 1977, Mr. James Haug, Director, ACS Socioeconomic Affairs Department, correctly predicted that the pool of board-certified surgeons as a percentage of the total pool of board-certified physicians would decline. In 1980, the total number of certificates issued by the 23 specialty boards was 16,034. Surgical specialty certificates accounted for 23.8 percent of the total number of certificates issued by the 23 specialty boards in 1980. In 1994, the total number of certificates issued by the 23 specialty boards was 22,090. Surgical specialty certificates accounted for 19.8 percent of the total number of certificates issued by the 23 specialty boards in 1994. In 1980, 1984, 1986, and 1989 primary care specialty certificates accounted for greater than 50.0 percent of the total number of certificates issued by the 23 specialty boards in those years. Given the substantial growth in the number of certificates in the primary care and other medical specialties depicted in the figure, certificates in the surgical specialties as a percentage of the total number of certificates has remained stable.

Certification↗