I will be brief.
Medicine is not a simple commodity to be bought and sold on a market. Patients are not simply 'consumers' or 'clients'.
People often go to the doctor during times of acute illness, emergency and discomfort, thus the notion of 'price shopping' for a physician, much like one would do for a television of automobile, is off the mark.
People appear to choose their physician in a variety a ways, with consumer activism being less influential than assumed and with many patients taking a passive role in healthcare utilization. An older study suggested that people choose their physicians largely on the advice of family and friends.
Much of the cost of medical care is borne by third party payers (insurance, Medicaid and Medicare), thus the individual responsibility for price consideration is diminished.
A recent New York Times opinion article nicely explores why patients are not simple consumers.
Have a nice weekend.
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| Source: fortunewatch.com |
People often go to the doctor during times of acute illness, emergency and discomfort, thus the notion of 'price shopping' for a physician, much like one would do for a television of automobile, is off the mark.
People appear to choose their physician in a variety a ways, with consumer activism being less influential than assumed and with many patients taking a passive role in healthcare utilization. An older study suggested that people choose their physicians largely on the advice of family and friends.
Much of the cost of medical care is borne by third party payers (insurance, Medicaid and Medicare), thus the individual responsibility for price consideration is diminished.
A recent New York Times opinion article nicely explores why patients are not simple consumers.
Have a nice weekend.
