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Solo Practice (solo + practice)
Selected AbstractsHealth IT and Solo Practice: A Love-Hate RelationshipTHE JOURNAL OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS, Issue 1 2010Joseph Heyman A small town solo gynecologist describes the process of starting a practice based on health information technology, how catastrophic it can be to lose data, how difficult it can be to try to exchange information, and yet how rewarding it can be to accomplish a "paperless" experience. [source] Physician characteristics associated with prescription of inappropriate medications using Beers criteriaGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2007Hirohisa Imai Background: The prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) for elderly patients represents a major problem. In the published work, various practice characteristics associated with physicians prescribing habits have been reported. However, existing data has shed little light on the characteristics of physicians who tend to prescribe PIM. We examined whether personal, professional or practice characteristics differ between physicians who prescribe PIM and those who do not. Methods: The subjects comprised primary care and general practice physicians. Physicians were identified from the pharmacy database of a managed care organization as having prescribed medications for Medicare patients over 65 years enrolled in a managed care plan. We adopted Beers criteria to describe the prevalence of PIM use. The physicians were divided into three groups according to number of PIM prescribed. To examine the extent of associations between all the physician-related characteristics studied, polychotomous logistic regression was conducted. Results: Physicians who prescribed one to five PIMs were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41,0.98) times more likely to have publications than physicians who prescribed no PIM. Physicians who prescribed more than six PIM were 3.18 (95% CI, 2.05,4.95) times more likely to be certified by an internal medicine board, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.30,0.78) times more likely to have publications, and 1.84 (95% CI, 1.01,3.35) times more likely to be in solo practice than physicians who prescribed no PIM. Conclusion: In this study, we found three predictors of PIM prescribing incidence. Since the current study could only describe associations and not causality, further research is necessary. [source] Otolaryngology Retirement Profile in the Southeastern United States,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 2 2002W. Frederick McGuirt Sr. Abstract Objective To document retirement-related issues and trends among otolaryngologists. Study Design Survey of 438 retired members in the Southern geographical region of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. Methods A questionnaire was mailed to retired members, completed anonymously, and returned to the author. Results A total of 138 (31.5%) surveys were received. Respondents' average age at retirement was 63.2 years; approximately half had retired in the last 5 years. Since 1995, most had left either a group practice (45%) or a solo practice (41%). The majority of respondents (40%) retired for previously planned or personal reasons. Two thirds of respondents reported that they were more satisfied with retirement than expected. This greater satisfaction was seen in those with a higher average income after retirement. The most common advice for colleagues still practicing was to save more money and invest more money. Conclusions Although these results are biased because of a self-selected group of respondents, they illustrate that for this group of retired otolaryngologists, although retirement is being planned for, it is not occurring earlier than in previous years. The experience of retirement was largely positive for these respondents. [source] European Academy of Paediatrics Research in Ambulatory Setting network (EAPRASnet): a multi-national general paediatric research network for better child healthCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2010S. Del Torso Abstract Background In 2008, the European Academy of Paediatrics launched a paediatric-based research network , EAPRASnet (European Academy of Paediatrics Research in Ambulatory Setting network). The network has recruited primary care and general paediatricians from European and Mediterranean countries. Methods Every paediatrician joining the network has been asked to complete a recruitment survey. The aims of the survey were to characterize paediatrician's demographics, practice arrangements and patient's demographics, to define main incentives for research, and to learn what paediatricians view as unsolved issues that need to be studied. Results A total of 156 paediatricians from 19 countries were recruited with 144 completing the questionnaire (92%). Majority of respondents (89%) were general paediatricians for more than half of their time. Practice arrangement of 47% of paediatricians was solo practice, with 40% in group practice. Electronic medical records were being used by 72% of respondents. Over 70% of the paediatricians had more than 1000 patients under their clinical care, and patients younger than 6 years old contributed nearly half of the patient population. Areas of most interest for research were: quality of care indicators, communication with parents, obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and effective well child care. Main incentives for participation in a research project were interest in the topic (81%) and effort to improve quality of care (71%). Lack of time was the leading reported obstacle for research activity (72%). EAPRASnet is growing, and the network's structure, operation and funding are described. Methods for joining the network and the process of study development are presented. Conclusion A core group of EAP general paediatricians are committed to research in their practices. The information gathered will serve for future planning of research projects in the EAPRASnet to harmonize and optimize the care given to children in the primary care setting in Europe. [source] Physician's production of primary care in Ontario, CanadaHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2010Sisira Sarma Abstract This paper examines the factors affecting the number of patient visits per week reported by family physicians in Ontario. The way that a physician is paid is potentially endogenous to the number of patients seen per week, thus an instrumental variable method of estimation is employed to account for the endogeneity bias. Once account is taken of the endogeneity of remuneration as well as relevant physician and practice characteristics, the estimated elasticity of output with respect to hours worked is 0.74; 0.68 in group practices and 0.82 in solo practices. Physicians paid on a non-fee-for-service (NFFS) conduct 15,31% fewer patient visits per week in comparison to those paid under an FFS scheme. Certain patient populations in practices affect patient visits in important ways, as do a number of physician and practice characteristics. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Short-term impact of a robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy ,mini-residency' experience on postgraduate urologists' practice patterns,THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED SURGERY, Issue 1 2006Elspeth M. McDougall Introduction To assist practising urologists acquire and incorporate robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) into their practice, a 5 day mini-residency (M-R) programme with a mentor, preceptor and potential proctor experience was established at the University of California, Irvine, Yamanouchi Center for Urological Education. The follow-up results from the initial 21 RALP M-R participants are presented. Methods Between September 2003 and September 2004, 21 urologists from six states and four countries underwent a RALP M-R. Each participant underwent 1:2 teacher:attendee instruction over a 5 day period, which included inanimate model skills training, animal/cadaver laboratory skills training and operating room observation experience. Participants were also offered a proctoring experience at their hospital if they so desired. A questionnaire survey was mailed 1,14 months (mean 7.2 months) following completion of the mini-residency and these results were tabulated and reviewed. Results A 100% response rate was achieved from the mailed questionnaires. The mean M-R participant age was 43 years (range 33,55 years). One-third of the M-R participants were practising in an academic environment. Most of the participants (55%) had no fellowship training. Of those with fellowship training (45%), three (15%) were in laparoscopy and three (15%) were in oncology; 25% of the participants were in large (>6 physicians), 25% in small (2,6 physicians) and 15% in solo practices; 70% of the participants were located in an urban setting. The majority of the participants (80%) had laparoscopic experience during residency training and had performed 20,60 laparoscopic cases prior to attending the M-R programme. Within 7.2 months after M-R (range 1,14 months), 95% of the participants were practising robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy and 25% of the RALP M-R participants had also performed robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Of the M-R participants, 38% availed themselves of the preceptor/proctor component of the programme; among these, 100% reported that they were performing RALP vs. only 92% of the MR participants who did not have a proctor experience. The 5 day length of the M-R was considered to be of satisfactory duration by 90% of the participants, while 1 participant considered it too brief and 1 considered it too long. All but one of the participants rated the M-R as a very or extremely valuable experience. All the M-R participants indicated that they would recommend this training programme to a colleague. Conclusions A 5 day intensive RALP M-R course seems to encourage postgraduate urologists, already familiar with laparoscopy, to successfully Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||