CLINICAL STAFFING IN STAFF AND GROUP-MODEL HMOS

Analysts frequently have used health maintenance organization (HMO) st affing patterns as a yardstick for estimating national clinical workfo rce requirements. Based on a nationwide survey of fifty-four staff- an d group-model HMOs, the largest sample yet used in an analysis of this type, this DataWatch examines physician-to-member ratios, the use of nonphysician providers, and HMOs' methods of estimating clinical staff ing needs. Overall physician staffing ratios and primary care physicia n staffing ratios closely resemble those reported in previous studies, but they exhibit wide variability and are strongly correlated with HM O size. Although caution should be exercised when using HMO staffing r atios in projections of physician workforce requirements, the ratios d escribed here support projections of a specialty physician surplus.