Survey: Doctors Favor Patient-Centered Care, Few Practice It
<p>A new national survey finds that while a wide majority of physicians are in favor of "patient-centered care," less than a quarter score high in incorporating patient-friendly practices into the care they deliver.<br><br>Results from the <a href="/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_item_id=21609&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecmwf%2Eorg%2Fpublications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D365654%26%23doc365654">Commonwealth Fund study</a>, published today in the <em>Archives of Internal Medicine,</em> indicate that America's doctors still have a way to go in adopting information technology, practicing team-based care, and collecting feedback from their patients. Among the findings:<ul><li>Three-quarters of primary care physicians said they had observed some problems with the availability of patients' medical records, test results, or other relevant information at the time of a scheduled visit.</li><li>Less than half send patients reminder notices about regular preventive or follow-up care.</li><li>Under a quarter use electronic medical records.</ul><br>The picture isn't all bad, however: a majority of physicians said they were able to implement some patient-centered care practices, such as providing same-day appointments to patients who request them.<br><br>"The survey findings clearly tell us that physicians are moving in the right direction, but they need adequate support," said the Fund's Anne-Marie Audet, M.D., the study's lead author. Doctors, she said, require technical assistance as well as financial incentives.</p>
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletters/ealerts/2006/apr/survey--doctors-favor-patient-centered-care--few-practice-it