Physician Agency Theory-based Development Strategies for China's Contracted Family Physician Services

doi:10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2021.00.114

Abstract

Abstract:

The relationship between patients and physicians can be regarded as principles and agents. Physician agency theory has been used to study physician behaviors in health economics and management. The contracted family physician services regulate the principle-agent relationship between patients and physicians using a formal contract. The utility of family physicians depends on their income and the total health of the contracted patients，which in turn depend on the quantity and quality of the services provided by the family physician. This paper analyzed the behavior of family physician in the process of contracted services with the physician agency theory，and discussed the development strategy from the perspective of healthcare providers，including promoting the capitation payment reform in primary care，implementing the system of charging a fee for contracted services，improving the performance income of family physician，and linking with the quality of patient service.

Key words: Contracted family physician services, Physician agency theory, Physician behavior, Family physician

摘要： 医生-患者关系可以看作一种委托-代理关系，医生代理理论是研究医生行为的经济管理学理论。家庭医生签约服务将签约患者和家庭医生之间的委托-代理关系以合同契约的方式加以规范。家庭医生的效用取决于自己的收入及签约患者的总健康，而收入和患者总健康取决于家庭医生提供的服务的数量和质量。本文运用医生代理理论分析家庭医生签约服务过程的行为，并从供方角度探讨家庭医生签约服务的发展策略，建议推动基层医疗卫生机构“按人头付费”支付方式改革、落实签约服务费发放，提高家庭医生的绩效收入，并与患者服务质量挂钩。

关键词: 家庭医生签约服务, 医生代理理论, 医生行为, 家庭医生

FANG Hai. Physician Agency Theory-based Development Strategies for China's Contracted Family Physician Services　[J]. Chinese General Practice, 2021, 24(4): 381-386. DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2021.00.114.
方海. 基于医生代理理论的中国家庭医生签约服务发展策略[J]. 中国全科医学, 2021, 24(4): 381-386. DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2021.00.114.

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