An Exploration of Clinician Perceptions of Patient Economic Status and Plan of Care: A Codman Card Study
Background
On the verge of major health care changes, in a time of severe economic depression, close scrutiny of health care expenditures and efficacy is critical. Nationally, an increasing number of non-elderly patients are unable to fully benefit from their prescribed treatments, specifically medications, due to inability to pay (Felland L, Reschovsky J, 2009).
Rural Northern New England is not immune to the tumultuous national economic and political climate surrounding health care; a key component of the health care landscape in rural New England is patient finances. The Upper Valley presents its own unique set of considerations for the care of its predominantly rural and working-class population. There is a critical need for primary care clinicians to identify and address these factors in their pursuit to provide optimal patient care.
To date, little work has sought to investigate the implications of the financial burden associated with the primary care clinician-patient relationship. Several studies have shown that clinicians are concerned about the financial impact of treatments on their patients (Shrank W et al., 2006), yet many clinicians have limited knowledge of the costs of therapies prescribed for their patients (Reichert S et al., 2000). Another study found that clinicians routinely fail to address patient concerns regarding out-of-pocket costs because of time constraints, concerns over patient discomfort, and basic lack of habit (Alexander G et al., 2003) .
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Background
Purpose
Materials and Methods
Patient Population
Results
Discussions and Conclusion
Future Research
Works Cited
Preceptors in Participating Clinics
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