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Article
Measuring physicians' productivity: A three-year study to evaluate a new remuneration system
Academic Medicine
  • Guido Filler, Western University
  • Vanessa Burkoski, London Health Sciences Centre
  • Gary Tithecott, Western University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2014
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1097/ACM.0000000000000058
Disciplines
Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate a new assessment tool measuring physicians' academic productivity and its use in a performance-based remuneration system. METHOD: The authors developed an assessment tool based on existing tools to measure productivity. Yearly, from 2008 to 2011, physicians at the University of Western Ontario received a score of up to three points for each of four components (impact, application, scholarly activity, mentorship) in each of four domains (clinical practice, education, research, administration). Scores were weighted by the percentage of time physicians spent on tasks in each domain. Year 1 scores were a baseline. In Years 2 and 3, scores were tied to remuneration. The authors compared scores and associations, accounting for age and academic rank, across the three years. RESULTS: The 37 participating physicians included 11 assistant, 23 associate, and 4 full professors. The mean weighted total baseline score across all four domains was 7.44. Years 2 and 3 scores were highly correlated with Year 1 scores (r = 0.85, Years 1 and 2; r = 0.89, Years 1 and 3). Year 2 mean weighted scores did not differ significantly from Year 1 scores. Assistant professors' scores improved significantly between Years 1 and 2 (+1.08, P < .001). Lower Year 1 scores were correlated with a greater improvement in scores between Years 1 and 2, and age was negatively correlated with score changes between Years 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Although the tool may be a robust measurement of physicians' productivity, performance-based remuneration had no effect on physicians' overall performance.

Citation Information
Guido Filler, Vanessa Burkoski and Gary Tithecott. "Measuring physicians' productivity: A three-year study to evaluate a new remuneration system" Academic Medicine Vol. 89 Iss. 1 (2014) p. 144 - 152
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/guido-filler/81/