AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTIVITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH MANPOWER.
Item
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Title
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AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTIVITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH MANPOWER.
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Identifier
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AAI8014971
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identifier
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8014971
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Creator
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KRASNER, MELVIN ISAAC.
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Contributor
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Michael Grossman | Charlotte Muller
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Date
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1980
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Economics, General
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Abstract
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Because specialization dominates American medicine, it is important to take specialty characteristics into account in formulating health manpower policy. In this study, detailed analysis of the production and geographic distribution of dermatological services has been undertaken, to provide general insights for national policy. Dermatology is a small, well-defined specialty, whose patients are virtually all ambulant. Emergencies and life-threatening conditions are rare, but the prevalence of skin disease and the attendant costs are substantial.;Descriptive data on the hours worked and patient-visits handled by a random sample of 150 dermatologists across the country are presented, and relationships with the local supply of physicians, fee levels, physician age, practice arrangement, and board-certification are examined. Production functions with alternative mathematical forms are estimated, using three categories of labor input: physician time and two levels of auxiliary staffing. The measure of output is essentially a count of visits, although refinement of this measure is attempted and the need for further improvement is discussed. Economic parameters, including the marginal products of the inputs, output elasticities, and marginal rates of substitution, are calculated, and marginal and total product curves are presented in graphical form. The shadow price of dermatologists' time was also calculated, and it suggests that dermatologists, on average, employ at least an optimal level of auxiliary personnel.;The analysis of the geographic distribution of dermatologists extends previous research in two ways: (1) by concentrating on variables directly related to a particular specialty, and (2) by using Zipcode Sectional Areas as geographic units of analysis. Per capita supply and change in supply between 1967 and 1977 are examined by state and Zipcode area. As expected, the distribution was associated with the size, education, and income of the population; Zipcode areas also appeared especially appropriate for analyzing specialty services. Directions for future research are outlined.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Economics
