| The profession of medicine has transitioned from solo to corporate practice. Profit- driven managed care corporations have set up "clinical guidelines," controlled through healthcare insurance plans that now prescribe medical care through the expedient of determining which care will be financed under those plans. Hence the restructuring of the healthcare delivery system has made it almost impossible for physicians to stay in solo practice.;Giant corporations bring rules, regulations, and guidelines that direct work. As such, most physicians have had to alter their medical practice to meet those insurance guidelines. Within this qualitative research study, eight primary care physicians have expressed their feelings concerning the difficulties in delivering healthcare under these new working conditions, and the consequent effects upon the quality of care delivered to their clients. This study shows the effects on autonomy and career satisfaction with physicians being required to obtain preauthorizations from nonmedically trained personnel, or to "jump through the hoops," simply to obtain what they feel is needed for their patients. overall, the study describes the clash between cultures of business executives and medical professionals as they work toward meeting the healthcare needs of the people. |
