Journal article
Assessing Change in Physician Practice Organization Profile in South Carolina: A Longitudinal Study
The Journal of rural health, v 36(3)
01 Jun 2020
PMID: 30986889
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background Physician practice organization is shifting away from solo, independent practices toward direct employment, but trends for rural-urban differences are often analyzed by dichotomizing rurality. The purpose of this analysis was to examine trends in practice organization across 3 levels of rurality over a 21-year period in South Carolina. Methods Physician license renewal forms were used to ascertain type of practice organization where physicians worked in South Carolina between 1995 and 2015. Physicians were divided into 4 categories: physicians in independent solo practices, physicians in independent group practices, employed physicians, and other. Historical trends in type of practice organization were evaluated for each level of rurality (metropolitan, micropolitan, and small adjacent/remote rural) using the National Cancer Institute's Joinpoint regression models. Results There was a continual increase in physician renewals indicating employment, with an average annual increase of 5.9%. Micropolitan rural counties demonstrated the greatest average increase in license renewals for employed physicians (average annual increase = 7.4%;P< .05). The ratio of license renewals per 100,000 population for physicians in independent solo practices declined significantly over time. Micropolitan and small adjacent/remote rural counties saw an increase in the annual decline for this type of practice organization in 2007. Conclusions A shift toward physician employment was observed at all levels of rurality. Rural counties exhibited a more pronounced transition between the types of practice organization compared to metropolitan counties. Research is needed to address the implications of these changes for rural providers and patients.
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Details
- Title
- Assessing Change in Physician Practice Organization Profile in South Carolina: A Longitudinal Study
- Creators
- Charity B. Breneman - University of South CarolinaJanice C. Probst - University of South CarolinaElizabeth Crouch - University of South CarolinaJan M. Eberth - University of South Carolina
- Publication Details
- The Journal of rural health, v 36(3)
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 9
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000545527000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85064430909
- Other Identifier
- 991021855179104721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Health Policy & Services
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health