Background: The regional availability of specialized physicians is an important aspect in healthcare of patients with IBD. The association between physician density and healthcare is not yet clear. Most studies did not consider district type, which reflects population density. Our research...

For some considerable time now the interface between ambulatory and hospital care has been mooted as a cause of inefficiencies in the German health system and there have been calls for a softening of the strict separation between the two sectors. This debate emphasizes the need for detailed...

Background: This paper analyses the volume-outcome relationship and the effects of minimum volume regulations in the German hospital sector. Methods: We use a full sample of administrative data from the unselected, complete German hospital population for the years 2005 to 2007. We apply...

Background: Risk attitudes influence decisions made under uncertainty. This paper investigates the association of risk attitudes with the utilization of preventive and general healthcare services, work absence and resulting costs to explore their contribution to the heterogeneity in utilization....

Objective: To evaluate the impact of different dissemination channels on the awareness and usage of hospital performance reports among referring physicians, as well as the usefulness of such reports from the referring physicians’ perspective. Data sources/Study setting: Primary data collected...

Background Informal care provided by family members, friends, or neighbors is a major pillar in the German longterm care system. As the number of care-dependent older adults grow, ensuring their future care still relies on the willingness of family members, friends, or neighbors to assume the...

Objectives Most people who develop chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), live in their homes in the community in their last year of life. Since cost-sharing is common in most countries, including those with univer‑ sal health insurance, these people incur out of pocket...