Patient satisfaction with collaborative practice

Objective: To gather information on women's perceptions of the services delivered in collaborative obstetrics and gynecology practices and to determine whether patients perceive a difference in the delivery of services in a variety of practice settings. Methods: A cross-sectional patient satisfaction survey was developed by the Collaborative Practice Advisory Group of ACOG. Ten collaborative practices were selected to participate: five in private offices, two in clinics, two in health maintenance organizations, and one in the military. Between April 15 and May 15, 1994, 3257 completed surveys were obtained for analysis. Results: Between 71% and 92% of women, depending upon the practice setting, agreed with statements regarding the possible benefits from being cared for in a collaborative practice. The majority (75-92%) expected services provided in a collaborative practice to differ from those provided in a noncollaborative practice. Women making their first visit to a collaborative practice expected quicker appointments, more time with the provider, more health information, and more specific diet information than did women who had previously been seen in such a practice. There were minimal differences in comfort levels when discussing issues of sexuality and physical and sexual abuse in either public or private settings with physicians or non-physicians. Conclusions: Patients in this survey were accepting of the concept of collaborative practice and felt that it offered quicker appointments, more time with the provider, more health information, and more specific diet information than did physician-only practices.