Doctors focus on sales and profits

Doctors focus on sales and profits: Patient interests are not the focus

09/30/2014

Doctors represent the interests of patients and take care of their health. This is how the medical associations propagate this in public. In practice, however, the reality is different. Thus, doctors in private practice have clear misperceptions about their practice and their external impact.

The tactical control variables such as quarterly profit, sales figures and practice utilization are at the forefront of the established doctors. Criteria such as the reputation of the practice in public, the recommendation management or future questions play almost no role in the medical practices. Likewise, new technologies such as appointments or prescription orders via the Internet.

Lack of hygiene and cleanliness
The interests of the patients are often not taken into account by established physicians. The waiting times for a treatment appointment and in the doctor's office, the general practitioners manage to the satisfaction of their patients. However, the specialists do not criticize the patients, according to a study by the Aalen / Württ University of Applied Sciences.

Also, hygiene and cleanliness are not the focus of practice management at all established physicians. In addition, the staff in the specialist practices are rarely friendly and attentively complain the patients. However, the majority of patients are satisfied with the professional competence of all doctors. The advice in the patient interview with the specialists leaves much to be desired.

Patients also attach great importance to a good overall impression of the practice. However, this does not seem to be so important to all established established physicians. The study leader Bodo R. V. Antonić from the University of Applied Sciences Aalen: "Criteria such as patient satisfaction and hygiene are of no relevance to the general practitioner." (Pm)