An article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and covered in Fierce Healthcare reveals physician job satisfaction and patient care may both improve if physicians earn set salaries.
Here are four things to know:
1. Basing physician pay on test and procedure quantity could lead to unnecessary tests and added cost for the healthcare system.
2. Additional tests and procedures may cause patients unnecessary pain and discomfort, according to the report.
3. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente successfully utilize the straight salary system.
4. Set salaries may also improve physician job satisfaction, as physicians wouldn't have to worry about complicated fee-for-service systems.
UCLA Anderson School of Management Assistant Professor of Strategy and study co-author Ian Larkin, PhD, said fee-for-service payment models force physicians to "consider the ramifications of their decisions for their own paychecks."
More articles on practice management:
Arthroscopic surgery may not help treat arthritis — 5 insights
5 things to know about Cleveland Clinic's opioid-fighting strategy
Guideline: Knee arthroscopy patients seldom see benefits — 5 insights