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Responses of HMO Medical Directors to Trust Building in Managed Care
Author(s) -
Mechanic David,
Rosenthal Marsha
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the milbank quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1468-0009
pISSN - 0887-378X
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0009.00137
Subject(s) - public relations , business , managed care , health care , health maintenance , nursing , medicine , political science , law
Managed care organizations (MCOs) are facing intense criticism at national, state, and local levels and battling initiatives that would impose stricter regulation. Medical directors of HMOs were surveyed regarding their organizations’ strategies of communication, the programs they have instituted to build trust, and their commitment to sponsoring family and patient support groups. The responses obtained from 252 directors indicate that nonprofit and free‐standing organizations are more likely than either for‐profitHMOs or organizations that are part of a chain to sponsor community activities and programs and to offer family and patient support groups. Staff‐ and group‐model HMOs are more likely than other organizational configurations to initiate many types of “trust programs.” The results indicate that more dispersed and “virtual‐type” organizations must explore ways to respond meaningfully to community concerns–and to public health, prevention, and health promotion needs as well–while continuing to improve their practice patterns.