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Abstract
Introduction: As hospitals align themselves in tiered payment systems, patients are faced with financial implications of continuing their existing relationship with their obstetrical practice. Patients may switch to a new obstetrical group and hospital. Obstetric practices are assessing if changing hospital affiliation will minimize patient attrition. Not much is understood about patient loyalty and barriers to switching providers. We conducted a patient survey to asses switch cost, loyalty and likelihood of attrition
Methods: 555 patients from a single obstetrical practice were surveyed. Student t-test was used to assess the relation between self-reported likelihood for attrition (outcome) and self-reported switch cost and loyalty
Results: Only 43.5% of the patients chose the practice because they wanted a doctor at the practice, others chose to be able to deliver at the affiliated hospital. 22.8% of the patients would certainly chose hospital over the practice. Patients were likely to choose the OB practice over the hospital if they chose to join the practice for its doctors, if they extensively researched physicians, or were worried about developing a relationship with a new doctor or the logistic hassle related to switching providers.
Conclusion/Implications: A large number of patients chose an obstetrics practice because of the hospital they deliver in rather than because of the physicians. This factor is an important predictor of attrition if the OB practice switch their hospital affiliation. A deep understanding of patient-mix regarding their loyalty, motivation and perceived switch cost may help a practice asses the financial implications of switching hospital affiliation.
Methods: 555 patients from a single obstetrical practice were surveyed. Student t-test was used to assess the relation between self-reported likelihood for attrition (outcome) and self-reported switch cost and loyalty
Results: Only 43.5% of the patients chose the practice because they wanted a doctor at the practice, others chose to be able to deliver at the affiliated hospital. 22.8% of the patients would certainly chose hospital over the practice. Patients were likely to choose the OB practice over the hospital if they chose to join the practice for its doctors, if they extensively researched physicians, or were worried about developing a relationship with a new doctor or the logistic hassle related to switching providers.
Conclusion/Implications: A large number of patients chose an obstetrics practice because of the hospital they deliver in rather than because of the physicians. This factor is an important predictor of attrition if the OB practice switch their hospital affiliation. A deep understanding of patient-mix regarding their loyalty, motivation and perceived switch cost may help a practice asses the financial implications of switching hospital affiliation.
Introduction: As hospitals align themselves in tiered payment systems, patients are faced with financial implications of continuing their existing relationship with their obstetrical practice. Patients may switch to a new obstetrical group and hospital. Obstetric practices are assessing if changing hospital affiliation will minimize patient attrition. Not much is understood about patient loyalty and barriers to switching providers. We conducted a patient survey to asses switch cost, loyalty and likelihood of attrition
Methods: 555 patients from a single obstetrical practice were surveyed. Student t-test was used to assess the relation between self-reported likelihood for attrition (outcome) and self-reported switch cost and loyalty
Results: Only 43.5% of the patients chose the practice because they wanted a doctor at the practice, others chose to be able to deliver at the affiliated hospital. 22.8% of the patients would certainly chose hospital over the practice. Patients were likely to choose the OB practice over the hospital if they chose to join the practice for its doctors, if they extensively researched physicians, or were worried about developing a relationship with a new doctor or the logistic hassle related to switching providers.
Conclusion/Implications: A large number of patients chose an obstetrics practice because of the hospital they deliver in rather than because of the physicians. This factor is an important predictor of attrition if the OB practice switch their hospital affiliation. A deep understanding of patient-mix regarding their loyalty, motivation and perceived switch cost may help a practice asses the financial implications of switching hospital affiliation.
Methods: 555 patients from a single obstetrical practice were surveyed. Student t-test was used to assess the relation between self-reported likelihood for attrition (outcome) and self-reported switch cost and loyalty
Results: Only 43.5% of the patients chose the practice because they wanted a doctor at the practice, others chose to be able to deliver at the affiliated hospital. 22.8% of the patients would certainly chose hospital over the practice. Patients were likely to choose the OB practice over the hospital if they chose to join the practice for its doctors, if they extensively researched physicians, or were worried about developing a relationship with a new doctor or the logistic hassle related to switching providers.
Conclusion/Implications: A large number of patients chose an obstetrics practice because of the hospital they deliver in rather than because of the physicians. This factor is an important predictor of attrition if the OB practice switch their hospital affiliation. A deep understanding of patient-mix regarding their loyalty, motivation and perceived switch cost may help a practice asses the financial implications of switching hospital affiliation.
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