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Despite potential benefits of joint ventures between dialysis companies and nephrologists, these arrangements raise legal and ethical concerns. And because of a lack of transparency, it is impossible to study whether these concerns are borne out in practice.

Background There are enormous problems in recruiting depressed people into randomised controlled trials (RCTs), with numerous studies consistently failing to recruit to target (Sully et al., Trials 14:166, 2013). Given the high prevalence of—and disability associated with—depression, it is important to find ways of effectively recruiting to RCTs evaluating interventions. This study aimed to test the feasibility of using a self-referral system to recruit to a brief intervention in a multi-site trial, the CLASSIC trial of self-confidence workshops for depression. In that trial, participants referred themselves to a depression intervention with a positive non-diagnostic title of ‘self-confidence’, given the close relationship of depression and self-esteem (Horrell et al., Br J Psychiatry 204:222–233, 2014). Method We analysed uptake and retention rates by recruitment to the study, attendance at the workshops and follow-up rates. However, because of the rapid rate of recruitment, we decided to pause the trial and revise our original single-site research protocol in months 5–6. We report findings under three main headings: recruitment rates for the 12 months of the project before and after the pause; data regarding attendance at the workshops before and after the pause; and the follow-up rates before and after the pause. Results We recruited 459 participants within 12 months, representing 38 participants recruited per month. Improved uptake of the intervention and retention after the development of multi-site research protocols are reported. Discussion Based on previous evidence from RCT recruitment among depressed participants, our recruitment rate demonstrates that a self-referral system using a non-diagnostic title of self-confidence is a successful recruitment method. The implications of rapid recruitment using a self-referral system are described, including the impact on uptake of the intervention as well as participant retention. Because of the potential for recruiting many participants quickly, research teams need to be adequately resourced and the oversight committees prepared to meet at shorter intervals with RCTs of brief interventions. Short conclusion Self-referral to a brief intervention for depression with a non-diagnostic title can be a very effective way of recruiting depressed people into trials. However, there are also some challenges. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN26634837 . Registered on 10 June 2010.

Two Sounding Board articles, by Emanuel et al. and Antos et al., discuss different approaches to controlling rising health care costs in the United States. The editors hope that the range of options presented will stimulate discussion and debate on the best ways to bend the health care cost curve. In this election year, U.S. national spending on health care will reach $2.8 trillion, or about 18% of total spending on all goods and services. This high level of spending reduces our ability to invest in other important parts of the economy and also adds to our unsustainable national debt. There is wide agreement that we must find ways to bend the health care cost curve. Taking different approaches, the two articles that follow present a range of options, including reducing both the prices and quantity of services for public and private payers, reducing administrative costs, implementing new market-based incentives, . . .

Background: Recent reports by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have highlighted sharp increases in the use of advanced diagnostic imaging procedures among the Medicare fee-for-service population. Little research has examined whether such trends also exist among persons with generous private insurance coverage. Moreover, research documenting changes in the share of utilization linked to self-referral is nonexistent. Research Design: Using data from a large private insurer in California, we document trends in utilization for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans over the time period 2000-2004. We collected data that enable us to calculate relative changes in use rates by provider type (self-referral physicians, radiologists, hospitals, and independent diagnostic testing facilities). Examining trends in the share of utilization performed by provider type can offer insights as to the effects of self-referral on rates of use. Results: Rates of use for the 3 advanced imaging modalities examined--MRI, CT, and PET--increased rapidly between 2000 and 2004. PET utilization increased by almost 400%, whereas the corresponding increases for MRI and CT exceeded 50%. Findings suggest that physician self-referral arrangements and independent diagnostic testing facilities seem to be contributing to this greater use of advanced imaging, especially for MRI and PET. In contrast, relative changes in use of advanced imaging performed at hospitals were small. Use rates for all 3 modalities were much higher in southern California compared with the northern region of the state. Conclusions: Use of highly reimbursed advanced imaging, a major driver of higher health care costs, should be based on clear clinical practice guidelines to ensure appropriate use.

Some urology groups have integrated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) into their practice, which allows them to refer patients to their own practice for IMRT. This analysis showed a substantial increase in IMRT use by urologists who acquired ownership of IMRT services. In 2011, nearly 240,900 men in the United States received a new diagnosis of prostate cancer. 1 Approximately 90% of these men had clinically localized disease, which was indolent in most cases. The relative 10-year survival rate among all men with prostate cancer is 98%. 1 , 2 Primary definitive treatments include prostatectomy, external-beam radiation therapy, and brachytherapy. Alternatively, the patient may opt for a less aggressive (monitoring) approach that includes active surveillance or hormone therapy. Table 1 describes each treatment option. Despite substantial variation in reimbursement, evidence suggests that for low-risk disease, the three primary definitive treatments are clinically equivalent when measured in terms . . .

BackgroundAlthough previous research has demonstrated high rates of inappropriate diagnostic imaging, the potential influence of several physician-level characteristics is not well established.ObjectiveTo examine the influence of three types of physician characteristics on inappropriate imaging: experience, specialty training, and self-referral.DesignA retrospective analysis of over 70,000 MRI claims submitted for commercially insured individuals. Physician characteristics were identified through a combination of administrative records and primary data collection. Multi-level modeling was used to assess relationships between physician characteristics and inappropriate MRIs.SettingMassachusettsParticipantsCommercially insured individuals who received an MRI between 2010 and 2013 for one of three conditions: low back pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain.MeasurementsGuidelines from the American College of Radiology were used to classify MRI referrals as appropriate/inappropriate. Experience was measured from the date of medical school graduation. Specialty training comprised three principal groups: general internal medicine, family medicine, and orthopedics. Two forms of self-referral were examined: (a) the same physician who ordered the procedure also performed it, and (b) the physicians who ordered and performed the procedure were members of the same group practice and the procedure was performed outside the hospital setting.ResultsApproximately 23% of claims were classified as inappropriate. Physicians with 10 or less years of experience had significantly higher odds of ordering inappropriate MRIs. Primary care physicians were almost twice as likely to order an inappropriate MRI as orthopedists. Self-referral was not associated with higher rates of inappropriate MRIs.LimitationsClassification of MRIs was conducted with claims data. Not all self-referred MRIs could be detected.ConclusionsInappropriate imaging continues to be a driver of wasteful health care spending. Both physician experience and specialty training were highly associated with inappropriate imaging.

With information on healthcare providers available on the internet, patient self-referral has become popular. This study serves to evaluate the ease with which patients can locate an Endocrine Surgeon using hospital websites. Websites of the 16 top academic hospitals from The US News and World Report’s Hospital Rankings for 2018–2019 were accessed. Each “Find A Doctor” page was searched for: “thyroid nodule,” “hyperparathyroidism,” and “adrenal mass.” Data for suggested providers was collected and analyzed. Search results for “thyroid nodule” found Endocrine Surgeons as the predominant providers at 6% institutions, 25% suggested none. For “hyperparathyroidism,” 31% institutions suggested a majority of Endocrine Surgeons, 19% suggested none. For “adrenal mass,” 25% had Endocrine Surgeons as the predominant providers, 31% suggested none. The majority of hospitals did not suggest Endocrine Surgeons as the predominant providers for the queried conditions, demonstrating the challenge patients face in finding an Endocrine Surgeon through hospital websites. •Endocrine surgeons are infrequently listed as predominant providers.•Wide variability in the number of providers listed exists for endocrine conditions.•Providers must play an active role in adjusting hospital website search functions.

Background The by-pass of the primary level of care to the referral facilities has continued to raise concerns for the healthcare delivery system. About 60–90% of patients in Nigeria are reported to self-refer to a referral level of care. Thus, this study sought to identify the factors that influence service-users’ decision to self-refer to the secondary healthcare facilities in Nigeria by exploring the perceptions and experiences of the service-users. Methods Twenty-four self-referred service-users were interviewed from three selected secondary healthcare facilities (general hospitals) in Niger state, Nigeria. The interviews were tape-recorded, each lasting 20 min on average. This was subsequently transcribed and framework analysis was employed for the analysis. Results Various reasons were identified to have resulted in the bypass of the primary healthcare facilities in favour of the secondary level of care. The identified themes were organised based on the predisposing, enabling and need component of Andersen’s model. These themes included: patients understanding of the healthcare delivery system; perceptions about the healthcare providers; perceptions about healthcare equipment/ facilities; advice from relatives and friends; service-users’ expectations; access to healthcare facilities; regulations/ policies; medical symptoms; perceptions of severity of medical symptoms. Conclusions The findings from this study call for an evaluation of the current healthcare referral system, particularly in developing settings like Nigeria and consequently the need for developing a contextual model as applicable to individual settings. Therefore, a multifaceted approach is needed to address the current concerns to ensure patients utilise the appropriate level of care. This will ensure the primary healthcare facilities are not undermined and allow the referral levels of care to live up to their mandate.

Abstract Purpose Bariatric surgery (BS) is considered the most efficient treatment for severe obesity. International guidelines recommend multidisciplinary approach to BS (general practitioners, endocrinologists, surgeons, psychologists, or psychiatrists), and access to BS should be the final part of a protocol of treatment of obesity. However, there are indications that general practitioners (GPs) are not fully aware of the possible benefits of BS, that specialty physicians are reluctant to refer their patients to surgeons, and that patients with obesity choose self-management of their own obesity, including internet-based choices. There are no data on the pathways chosen by physicians and patients to undergo BS in the real world in Italy.MethodsAn exploratory exam was performed for 6 months in three pilot regions (Lombardy, Lazio, Campania) in twenty-three tertiary centers for the treatment of morbid obesity, to describe the real pathways to BS in Italy.ResultsCharts of 2686 patients (788 men and 1895 women, 75.5% in the age range 30–59 years) were evaluated by physicians and surgeons of the participating centers. A chronic condition of obesity was evident for the majority of patients, as indicated by duration of obesity, by presence of several associated medical problems, and by frequency of previous dietary attempts to weight loss. The vast majority (75.8%) patients were self-presenting or referred by bariatric surgeons, 24.2% patients referred by GPs and other specialists. Self-presenting patients were younger, more educated, more professional, and more mobile than patients referred by other physicians. Patients above the age of 40 years or with a duration of obesity greater than 10 years had a higher prevalence of all associated medical problems.ConclusionsThe majority of patients referred to a tertiary center for the treatment of morbid obesity have a valid indication for BS. Most patients self-refer to the centers, with a minority referred by a GP or by specialists. Self-presenting patients are younger, more educated, more professional, and more mobile than patients referred by other physicians. Older patients and with a longer duration of obesity are probably representative of the conservative approach to BS, often regarded as the last resort in an endless story.

Background Efficient healthcare delivery and access to specialized care rely heavily on a well-established healthcare sector referral system. However, the referral system faces significant challenges in developing nations like Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess self-referral prevalence among patients attending tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh and identify the associated factors. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary care hospital, involving 822 patients visiting their outpatient or inpatient departments. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The patients’ mode of referral (self-referral or institutional referral) was considered the outcome variable. Results Approximately 58% of the participants were unaware of the referral system. Of all, 59% (485 out of 822) of patients visiting tertiary care hospitals were self-referred, while 41% were referred by other healthcare facilities. The primary reasons for self-referral were inadequate treatment (28%), inadequate facilities (23%), critical cases (14%), and lack of expert physicians (8%). In contrast, institutional referrals were mainly attributed to inadequate facilities to treat the patient (53%), inadequate treatment (47%), difficult-to-treat cases (44%), and lack of expert physicians (31%) at the time of referral. The private facilities received a higher proportion of self-referred patients compared to government hospitals (68% vs. 56%, p  < 0.001). Among patients attending the study sites through institutional referral, approximately 10% were referred from community clinics, 6% from union sub-centers, 25% from upazila health complexes, 22% from district hospitals, 22% from other tertiary care hospitals, and 42% from private clinics. Patients visiting the outpatient department (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.28–4.82, p  < 0.001), residing in urban areas (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.64, p  = 0.007), belonging to middle- and high-income families (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.03–1.62, p  = 0.014, and aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.54–2.46, p  = 0.005, respectively), and living within 20 km of healthcare facilities (aOR 3.15, 95% CI 2.24–4.44, p -value < 0.001) exhibited a higher tendency for self-referral to tertiary care facilities. Conclusions A considerable number of patients in Bangladesh, particularly those from affluent urban areas and proximity to healthcare facilities, tend to self-refer to tertiary care centers. Inadequacy of facilities in primary care centers significantly influences patients to opt for self-referral.