Docs with their eyes on the clock? The effect of time pressures on primary care productivity

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 77
Issue: C

Authors (5)

Freedman, Seth (Indiana University) Golberstein, Ezra (not in RePEc) Huang, Tsan-Yao (not in RePEc) Satin, David J. (not in RePEc) Smith, Laura Barrie (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.402 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper examines how time pressure, an important constraint faced by medical care providers, affects productivity in primary care. We generate empirical predictions by incorporating time pressure into a model of physician behavior by Tai-Seale and McGuire (2012). We use data from the electronic health records of a large integrated delivery system and leverage unexpected schedule changes as variation in time pressure. We find that greater time pressure reduces the number of diagnoses recorded during a visit and increases both scheduled and unscheduled follow-up care. We also find some evidence of increased low-value care, decreased preventive care, and decreased opioid prescribing.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jhecon:v:77:y:2021:i:c:s0167629621000278
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-25