The more the better? Evidence from the relationship between primary care physicians and preventable hospitalizations in Taiwan context

• Main Authors: Hsiao-feng Chang, 張曉鳳
• Other Authors: Yia-Wun Liang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/3k7kvd

碩士 === 中臺科技大學 === 醫護管理研究所 === 97 === Objectives: The first purpose of this study is to describe patterns in ACSHs at the sub-medical regions based on demographics and other characteristics. Secondly, we calculate the ACSH rate for 64 sub-medical regions respectively, using AHRQ definitions. Last, this study explores the impact of primary care physician supply on ACSH rate in Taiwan. Data Sources: Data for this study includes 2000-2006 National Health Research Institute (NHRI) database, a nationally representative dataset, and Taiwan-Fukein Demographic Fact Book from the Ministry of the Interior. We examine sixteen principal or first-listed diagnoses identified by AHRQ as ACSHs. The independent variable of interest, the primary care physician supply, is measured as a continuous variable (MDs/10,000). Study design:Descriptive statistics are analyzed cross-sectionally and overtime. We take 2000 to 2006 altogether 7 years as research period and 64 sub-medical regions as research samples. Panel data regression model is used to determine the impacts of primary care physician supply on the distribution of ACSHs rate while controlling for other variables may also affect ACSHs. Larrange Multiplier test, Durbin-Watson test and Hausman test are used to test the model. Principal Findings: Through 2000 to 2006, ACSH rate for 64 sub-medical regions, respectively showed 0.0003 to 0.047 (Figture-1) The random effect models standardized estimates indicate that, among the measured covariates in our model, physician supply was not associated with ACSH. But, hospital beds and number of people aged under 17 have the positive adjusted relationship with ACSH. Conclusions:To improve quality of overall medical service should increase efficiency of primary care system, rather than increases the hospital beds number and care physicians.