Physician utilization. The state of research about physicians' practice patterns.

Abstract

Reprinted with permission from Medical Care 1985;23:461-483. Copyright ? 1985 by J.B. Lippincott Company. A group of Americans who represent less than one half of 1% of the population determine how nearly 10% of the nation's gross national product will be spent, Although physicians' professional fees represent only one fifth of health care expenditures, they are responsible far decisions that govem the way that as much as 90% of each health care dollar is used. Despite the economic importance of physicians' decisions, only recently have investigators begun to explore the factors that govem medical decision making. Even more recently have health services researchers begun to evaluate ways of motivating doctors to provide more costeffective medical care.