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Doctor Decision Making and Patient Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Janet Currie

    (Yale University)

  • W. Bentley MacLeod

    (Yale University)

  • Kate Musen

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

Doctors often treat similar patients differently, which affects health outcomes and medical spending. We assess the recent literature on doctor decision making through the lens of a model that incorporates diagnostic and procedural skills, beliefs, incentives, and differences in patient pools. Decision making is affected by beliefs, training, experience, peer effects, financial incentives, and time constraints. Interventions to improve decision making include providing information, guidelines, and technologies like electronic medical records and algorithmic decision tools. Economists have made progress in understanding doctor decision making, but applications of that knowledge to improving health care are still limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Janet Currie & W. Bentley MacLeod & Kate Musen, 2025. "Doctor Decision Making and Patient Outcomes," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2488, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwl:cwldpp:2488
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    File URL: https://cowles.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2026-02/d2488.pdf
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