PHYSICIAN SATISFACTION WITH RURAL HOSPITALS

This study examines factors leading to physician satisfaction with small rural hospitals. Interviews were conducted with 122 rural physicians using a standardized survey instrument. The relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable, hospital satisfaction, are described and tested using chi-square and discriminant analysis. The findings of this study revealed that no demographic variables appeared in the chi-square, and only age appeared in the discriminant analysis. Practice factors impacting hospital satisfaction included practice satisfaction (both in the chi-square and discriminant analysis) and years at current location (only in the chi-square). Hospital-related factors affecting hospital satisfaction included administrative responsiveness (strongest association); administration accessibility, communication with administration, and nursing skill and knowledge in the chi-square; and administrative responsiveness, nursing skill and knowledge, and technology in the discriminant analysis.