This book provides a summary of the best techniques available to adjust for differences in illness among patients, and provides several case studies to show you how to use physician profiling to improve care. You'll also benefit from the latest information on the best strategies available to adjust capitation rates, plus you'll examine critical issues like budget management, utilization management, and more.

Many health care leaders believe that defining and measuringphysician work efforts and linking those efforts to practical andmeasurable clinical outcomes-physician profiling-will not onlyimprove patient satisfaction and increase the quality of care, itwill revolutionize the health care industry. Physician Profilingbrings together twenty-one of the nation's most prominent physicianresearchers and executive medical group administrators, givinghealth care leaders and physician practice administrators the toolsthey need to evaluate and implement a physician profiling system,unlocking this powerful technique for use in their ownorganizations. "Reducing clinical variation among physicians is the name of thegame in improving health care. This book provides an overview thatyou shouldn't miss of the state-of-the-art in this rapidlydeveloping field."--Dean C. Coddington, principal, McManisAssociates and author, Making Integrated Health Care Work

Evaluates the per capita methodology for profiling physicians -- a method which measures a patient's resource use over a fixed period of time and attributes that resource use to physicians -- in order to assist with the development of a physician feedback approach. It examines: (1) the extent to which physicians in selected specialties show stable practice patterns and how beneficiary utilization of services varies by physician resource use level; (2) factors to consider in developing feedback reports on physicians' performance, incl. per capita resource use; and (3) the extent to which feedback reports may influence physician behavior. This report focused on 4 medical specialties and 4 metro. areas chosen for their geographic diversity. Illustrations.