* OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that the frequency with which patients present to
primary care physicians with certain types of health problems is inversely related to the …

BACKGROUND Because it is possible that part of the variability in frequency of interventions
and even in outcomes results from the variability in referral patterns of primary care …

BACKGROUND. Appropriate utilization of primary and specialty care has stimulated
substantial debate, but the portion of the discussion focused on policies that restrict or …

BACKGROUND. Increasing enrollment in managed care organizations and dissatisfaction
with policies to restrict direct access to specialists have intensified interest in referrals from …

Background Although numerous changes are apparent in the US health care system, little is
known about how these changes have altered the work of primary care physicians. Methods …

Background and Objectives: Physician referral patterns significantly impact costs, quality of
care, and access to the health system. This paper examines factors predictive of patient …

■ OBJECTIVE To examine family physicians' referral decisions, which we conceptualized
as having 2 phases: whether to refer followed by to whom to refer.■ STUDYDESIGN …

PURPOSE This study describes referral completion from the perspectives of patients and
primary care physicians and identifies predictors of adherence to the referral …

Purpose. To examine the effects of patient, physician, and health care system characteristics
on primary care physicians'(PCPs') specialty referral decision making. Methods. Physicians …

Introduction: Variability in the referral patterns of primary care physicians is well established.
The objective of this study was to determine which factors have the most impact on a family …