Employment of residents in community hospitals: A multivariate analysis

Abstract

Regression analysis of a cross section of 1113 nonfederal short-term U.S. hospitals is used to identify contributions of various exogenous factors to hospital employment of residents. Teaching hospitals are excluded from the analysis. Residents are assumed to be inputs into production of both hospital services and private physicians' services. Case-mix and other hospital characteristics, hospital product demand influences, factor supply variables, and physician market and medical staff characteristics are all shown to influence resident employment. The empirical findings are discussed in the light of hospital reimbursement and regulatory issues, health manpower strategies, and the role of physicians in hospital decision making.