Bringing the Physician Back In: Communication Predictors of Physicians' Satisfaction With Managed Care

Abstract

Data from a survey of physicians in a west coast city (n = 356) are used to measure physicians' extra-occupational sources of dissatisfaction. Data revealed a significant relationship between physicians' satisfaction and their managed care experience, their communication with managed care organizations, and views of managed care practice. Results suggest that managed care currently plays a large and significant role in predicting physicians' satisfaction. The importance of communication between physicians and managed care organizations is illustrated in the strength of the relationships between communication variables and managed care decisions. Furthermore, in assessing the strength of the relationship, regression analysis reveals that communication with managed care accounts for the largest percentage of variance in physicians' satisfaction. The results of this study suggest that communication with managed care organizations affects physicians' satisfaction with every facet of the organizational environment, including leading physicians who report problematic communication with managed care organizations to say that they would be less likely to choose the same career path again.

Motivating health professionals through control mechanisms: A review of empirical evidence

“…Communication variables, in particular, have been measured thanks to the evaluation of problem reporting. [51,52] However, employees' perception of communication and organizational culture seem to be decisively influential on several kind of outcomes, such as job satisfaction, commitment, occupational alienation, perceptions of patient care). [53] More than anything else, the strong influence of practice monitoring on job satisfaction has been demonstrated mostly in organizations where practice is monitored by someone else.…”

“…[53] More than anything else, the strong influence of practice monitoring on job satisfaction has been demonstrated mostly in organizations where practice is monitored by someone else. [51]…”

Beyond Binaries: Reflections and a Suggestion on the Subject of Medical Professional Satisfaction

“…In the US, where much of the research has been conducted, various studies highlight what might be regarded as high levels of physician dissatisfaction, especially in primary care settings (McKinlay & Marceau, 2011). The influence of managed care (Stoddard, Hargraves, Reed, & Vratil, 2001) and other factors that reduce "autonomy" is reported as having a negative impact on satisfaction (e. g. Hadley & Mitchell, 2002;Lammers & Duggan, 2002). However, the relationship between satisfaction and perceived autonomy is not straightforward (Tyssen, Palmer, Solberg, Voltmer & Frank, 2013).…”

May I long experience the joy of healing: professional and personal wellbeing among physicians from a Canadian province

“…The strength of the patient-physician relationship is highly associated with physicians' satisfaction, especially for family physicians. [ 16 ] Time restrictions, coupled with pressures to see larger volumes of patients, strain this relationship, and also present a barrier to the integration of the psychosocial aspects of medical care. [ 16 ] Potential for conflict and confrontation with patients is a cause of extreme anxiety for physicians, and may precipitate avoidance behaviours to curtail patient discontentment or reproach.…”

“…Reports have indicated that important sources of physician satisfaction such as clinical autonomy, [ 9 , 30 ] have eroded with the introduction of managed care budgets, bureaucracy and guidelines. [ 5 , 16 ] Sources of satisfaction such as control over one's work protect against work-related stress, and are important determinants of health and wellbeing. [ 10 , 30 ] Tensions arise if explicit reliance on these performance evaluators are used for health care planning and decision making[ 5 , 6 , 29 , 31 ] without considering the practitioner's element of discretion, duty of non-malfeasance, the contextual complexities, uncertainty in medicine, and differing variations and needs of patients.…”