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. 2009 Jan-Feb;28(1):w91-102.
doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w91. Epub 2008 Dec 4.

States with more physicians have better-quality health care

Richard A Cooper  1
Affiliations

States with more physicians have better-quality health care

Richard A Cooper. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

As efforts begin to expand the physician workforce in response to deepening shortages of physicians, attention has focused on the value of what physicians do. There is a widely held belief that states with more specialists have poorer-quality health care, while quality is better in states with more family physicians. This is myth. Quality is better in states with more physicians, both specialists and family physicians. Access depends on total physician supply, irrespective of specialty. Population density, per capita income, and regional factors all influence this relationship, but the data are unequivocal.

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Comment in

  • From the editor.
    Dentzer S. Dentzer S. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Jan-Feb;28(1):w87-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w87. Epub 2008 Dec 4. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19056751 No abstract available.
  • Cooper's analysis is incorrect.
    Baicker K, Chandra A. Baicker K, et al. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Jan-Feb;28(1):w116-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w116. Epub 2008 Dec 4. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19056755
  • The elusive connection between health care spending and quality.
    Skinner J, Chandra A, Goodman D, Fisher ES. Skinner J, et al. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Jan-Feb;28(1):w119-23. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w119. Epub 2008 Dec 4. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19056756 Free PMC article.
  • Test the primary/specialty care hypothesis.
    Frey JJ. Frey JJ. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Mar-Apr;28(2):594; author reply 594-5, 597. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.594. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19276022 No abstract available.
  • Geographic analysis: need for better data.
    Ricketts TC, Holmes GM. Ricketts TC, et al. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Mar-Apr;28(2):595; author reply 595-6, 597. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.595-a. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19276024 No abstract available.
  • Doctors and quality of care.
    Cavale AR. Cavale AR. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Mar-Apr;28(2):595; author reply 597. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.595. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19276025 No abstract available.
  • Physicians and quality: answering the wrong question.
    Starfield B, Shi L, Macinko J. Starfield B, et al. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Mar-Apr;28(2):596-7; author reply 597. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.596. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009. PMID: 19276026 No abstract available.

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