Explaining primary care physicians' decision to quit patient-centered medical homes: Evidence from Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To examine the factors explaining primary care physicians' (PCPs) decision to leave patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs).

Data sources: Five-year longitudinal data on all the 906 PCPs who joined a PCMH in the Canadian province of Quebec, known there as a Family Medicine Group.

Study design: We use fixed-effects and random-effects logit models, with a variety of regression specifications and various subsamples. In addition to these models, we examine the robustness of our results using survival analysis, one lag in the regressions and focusing on a matched sample of quitters and stayers.

Data collection/extraction methods: We extract information from Quebec's universal health insurer billing data on all the PCPs who joined a PCMH between 2003 and 2005, supplemented by information on their elderly and chronically ill patients.

Principal findings: About 17 percent of PCPs leave PCMHs within 5 years of follow-up. Physicians' demographics have little influence. However, those with more complex patients and higher revenues are less likely to leave the medical homes. These findings are robust across a variety of specifications.

Conclusion: As expected, higher revenue favors retention. Importantly, our results suggest that PCMH may provide appropriate support to physicians dealing with complex patients.

Keywords: Canada; health care workforce; patient-centered medical homes; physician retention; primary care.