Atlas of Variations in Medical Practice in Spain: The Spanish National Health Service under scrutiny
Atlas of Variations in Medical Practice in Spain: The Spanish National Health Service under scrutiny
Enrique Bernal-Delgado, Sandra García-Armesto, Salvador Peiró
Health Policy. 01/2014; 114(1):15–30. DOI:10.1016/j.healthpol.2013.07.013
Early in the 2000s, a countrywide health services research initiative was launched under the acronym of Atlas VPM: Atlas of Variations in Medical Practice in the Spanish National Health System. This initiative aimed at describing systematic and unwarranted variations in medical practice at geographic level-building upon the seminal experience of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.
The paper aims at explaining the Spanish Atlas experience, built upon the pioneer Dartmouth inspiration. A few selected examples will be used along the following sections to illustrate the outlined conceptual framework, the different factors that may affect variation, and some methodological challenges.
Early in the 2000s, a countrywide health services research initiative was launched under the acronym of Atlas VPM: Atlas of Variations in Medical Practice in the Spanish National Health System. This initiative aimed at describing systematic and unwarranted variations in medical practice at geographic level-building upon the seminal experience of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.
The paper aims at explaining the Spanish Atlas experience, built upon the pioneer Dartmouth inspiration. A few selected examples will be used along the following sections to illustrate the outlined conceptual framework, the different factors that may affect variation, and some methodological challenges.