Library: Physician Survey:library_physician

During the spring and summer of 2005, the Community Hospital Health Services Foundation (CHF) conducted a physician study that consisted of a written survey completed by 63 physicians and six focus group sessionswith 23 physicians participating. In all, 24% of physicians credentialed at either Mercy Medical Center orCommunity Hospital responded. The population of respondents was somewhat older and more male than the physician population as a whole. Respondents were across all medical disciplines; however almost 45% of respondents were in specialties of obstetrics/gynecology, family practice and internal medicine.The purposes of the study were:

		To help assess the Foundation’s progress nearly one year after the consolidation of Mercy Health
		System Western Ohioand the Community Hospital of Springfield
		To identify how the Foundation can better serve those healthneeds of the community that cannot be
		met by Community Mercy Health Partners.

	The results of this research are found in a 30-page report organized around four major themes:
		Perception of CHF
		Impact of the consolidation on reproductive health services
		Status of women’s health services
		Indigent care

Each theme explores the findings, both quantitative and qualitative, and the implications for CHF.

Survey results indicated that physicians have only a superficial understanding of Community Hospital Health Services Foundation, its role and responsibilities. But a commonly understood concept is that CHF must ensure adequate reproductive health services in the community and that such services must be readily available and accessible into the future. Most physicians reported that they don’t really know if reproductive services are actually the same now as before the hospital consolidation; however, many believe that they probably are.

On the other hand, some physicians fear that the consolidation has had a negative impact on the availability of reproductive services, but they have no first-hand knowledge to support that perception. Clearly, physicians’ office practices have not been impacted by the Catholic nature of the new hospital corporation. However, ob/gyn physicians report that their hospital experience as been affected.

Fifty seven percent of Ob/gyn physicians said that: "In general, women’s health needs are not being adequately served in the community by a combination of private and public agencies." And a vast majority of all physicians acknowledge a lack of comprehensive reproductive health services for women unable to pay. When asked about the degree of access for reproductive services for patients unable to pay, nearly half of the respondents rate access for all services as either fair or poor. Sixty seven percent rated access to comprehensive reproductive health services for those unable to pay as fair or poor; 57% rated access to outpatient sterilizations as fair or poor; 50% rated access to referrals for specialized services as fair or poor; and 46% identified access to obstetric and gynecological services as fair or poor. Access to birth control, family planning and HIV/AIDS counseling received slightly better marks.

Paying for indigent care is a growing concern among physicians. Almost 40% of respondents indicated an increase over the past year in patients who are uninsured or under-insured. There are fewer practitioners willing and able to provide care to the indigent population. They don’t have the financial buffer to absorb large numbers of low-paying/non-paying patients. One physician reported that 70% of his patients are non-pay or welfare (The national average is 40%.), and one physician reported an increase in fraud.

Physicians are generally positive in their perception of CHF, expressed support for its mission and a willingness to work with the organization. Some expressed concern about the adequacy of funding into the future to enable CHF to achieve its vision. Physicians believe that CHF’s mission is important and they want CHF to succeed.

For a free copy of the complete 2005 Physician Study, complete and submit the comment card on the Contact Us page of this website or telephone us at 937-328-8841.