Managed care promises increased coordination of care through a primary care physician (PCP) with enhanced access to preventive healthcare services. Included in preventive healthcare is reproductive healthcare - from cervical/breast cancer screenings to HIV testing, from domestic violence screening to sexual health risk assessment, and from birth control to the provision of emergency contraception for immediate and future use. The purpose of this study was to determine whether physicians provided preventive reproductive healthcare services to their female patients, identify what training physicians received related to these services and evaluate managed care's impact on the delivery of such services. Survey respondents (N=138) were part of a random sample of PCP's (75%) and OB/GYN's (25%) working in New York City. 60% practiced in a private/group practice, 26% in a hospital and 14% in a health center. PPNYC's findings include the following. 83% always or sometimes provided contraceptive counseling, while 42% offered prescriptions for emergency contraception for immediate use. 70% provided HIV testing, while 60% always provided HIV risk behavior counseling, 62% sexual history screening, 46% substance abuse screening, 41% sexual orientation screening and 37% domestic violence screening. Most respondents could not identify which reproductive healthcare services did not require a written referral, per the New York State Direct Access law. The majority stated their participation in managed care led to an increase in the number of patients seen per day and the turnover of patients in their care, and a decrease in their ability to coordinate a patient's healthcare.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to: 1. Identify which reproductive healthcare services physicians are providing to their female patients. 2. Identify areas of training that physicians would like to receive. 3. Understand how managed care is impacting the delivery of these services
Keywords: Women's Quality Care, Managed Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.