A new study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati published in Medical Care suggests that mental effort and stress levels are fairly similar across medical specialties, according to a news release.
This finding goes against public's perception that surgeons put forth greater mental effort and endure more stress than do primary care and other non-surgeon specialists. The authors argue that such findings draw into question the appropriateness of current physician payment formulas, which assign relative value units for what is considered more taxing work.
"Similarities and differences in physician work intensity among specialties are poorly understood but have implications for quality of care, patient safety, practice organization, management and payment,” says Ronnie Horner, PhD, chair of the UC College of Medicine's public health sciences department and lead investigator on the study. "A physician's work can be assessed by the time required to complete it and by the intensity of the effort, which is central to properly valuing the services being provided. Current payment for medical services by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is largely determined by the relative value of the intensity associated with the service which may also affect the quality and efficiency of the care provided."
In the study, the researchers examined 108 physicians across various specialties in five states. The surgeons completed work intensity and stress measures following patient visits or operations.
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This finding goes against public's perception that surgeons put forth greater mental effort and endure more stress than do primary care and other non-surgeon specialists. The authors argue that such findings draw into question the appropriateness of current physician payment formulas, which assign relative value units for what is considered more taxing work.
"Similarities and differences in physician work intensity among specialties are poorly understood but have implications for quality of care, patient safety, practice organization, management and payment,” says Ronnie Horner, PhD, chair of the UC College of Medicine's public health sciences department and lead investigator on the study. "A physician's work can be assessed by the time required to complete it and by the intensity of the effort, which is central to properly valuing the services being provided. Current payment for medical services by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is largely determined by the relative value of the intensity associated with the service which may also affect the quality and efficiency of the care provided."
In the study, the researchers examined 108 physicians across various specialties in five states. The surgeons completed work intensity and stress measures following patient visits or operations.
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