ABSTRACT
Clinics representing more than half of Minnesota's family physicians participated in a statewide study on the practice of family medicine conducted by the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians. The survey was designed to provide direction for individual physicians, administrators, and the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians as an organization. The survey identified some concerns regarding access to care. In the central portion of the state, 71% of the full-time equivalent family physicians were in practices with Medicaid patient restrictions. In the most sparsely populated towns, 35% of the reporting family physicians who provided obstetrical care three years ago discontinued that service due to the cost or availability of professional liability coverage. Statewide in 1989, 57% of the family physician positions recruited for by the practices studies were unfilled at year's end, with 82% unfilled in the most sparsely populated areas.
Subject(s)
Family Practice/statistics & numerical data , Practice Management, Medical , Adult , Family Practice/economics , Female , Humans , Male , Minnesota , Office Visits/statistics & numerical data , Practice Management, Medical/economics , Rural Health/statistics & numerical data , WorkforceABSTRACT
Excellence in customer service is the key to success for any organization. Hospitals have begun to implement this newly popularized dictum through guest relations programs for patients. This article stresses the importance of viewing physicians as another major customer of the hospital--a customer who holds the key to the bottom line through patient admissions. To implement a "physician as customer" philosophy, the article suggests that it is necessary to understand what physicians value and how they rate the hospital on these factors. Methods for data collection are suggested. Acting on those findings to create a physician-focused service system is yet another strategy for achieving service excellence.
