Background: The gender pay gap in medicine is entrenched and has a negative impact on economic growth, institutional reputation and financial success, recruitment, retention and job satisfaction of female specialists and patient care. It also discourages women from entering specialist fields of medicine. In the Australian unregulated market setting, female specialists are not simply getting paid less, they are choosing to set lower fees than their male counterparts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Australian government, through Medicare, defines the type of medical specialist services it covers and subsidizes, but it does not regulate prices. Specialists in private practice can charge more than the fee listed by Medicare depending on what they feel 'the market will bear'. This can sometimes result in high and unexpected out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Public performance reporting (PPR) of physician and hospital data aims to improve health outcomes by promoting quality improvement and informing consumer choice. However, previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent effects of PPR, potentially due to the various PPR characteristics examined. The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review of the impact and mechanisms (selection and change), by which PPR exerts its influence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe dissemination of public performance reporting (PPR) cards aims to increase utilisation of information on quality of care by consumers when making health plan choices. However, evaluations of PPR cards show that they have little impact on consumer choices. The aim of this study is to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of PPR cards in promoting health plan selection and switching between health plans by consumers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Public performance reporting (PPR) of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes aim to improve the quality of care in hospitals, surgeons and to inform consumer choice. Past CABG and PCI studies have showed mixed effects of PPR on quality and selection. The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of PPR on market share, mortality, and patient mix outcomes associated with CABG and PCI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is growing evidence that providing increased voice to vulnerable or disenfranchised populations is important to improving health equity. In this paper we will examine the engagement of Aboriginal community members and community controlled organisations in local governance reforms associated with the Aboriginal Health National Partnership Agreements (AHNPA) in Australia and its impact on the uptake of health assessments. The sample included qualitative and quantitative responses from 188 people involved in regional governance in Aboriginal health.
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