Diagnostic problems in three pediatric neurology practice plans

Outpatient information was collected during 8 consecutive months from three different practice plans and analyzed for trends in diagnostic problems. At the time of patient contact, 1,635 patient visits were documented. The data were obtained from government clinics, a capitated contract setting, and a fee-for-service private clinic. Headache, epilepsy, and developmental delay were the most common diagnoses in all three settings. Cerebral palsy had a relatively low incidence. The types of complaints are clearly different depending on the practice setting. The factors responsible for these patterns are discussed.