The role of physicians and their professional bodies in containing health care costs

Containing health care costs is a key policy priority in many countries, in which all stakeholders potentially play a role. Physicians may play an important role in controlling health care spending, for example by reducing lower-value services and by encouraging patients to engage in shared-decision making (1). Physicians are in a good position to address health care costs in an appropriate and justifiable manner, combining cost control with patient advocacy in delivering high-value services. This especially holds for family doctors who tend to work in low-cost environments and cover the vast majority of patient demands. Furthermore, family doctors build long-lasting relationships with patients and may best be able to provide high-value, coordinated, person-centred care. In addition, in many health systems, family doctors are ought to function as gatekeepers for costly hospital care.
Source: Family Practice - Category: Primary Care Source Type: research