Delivery of Primary Care in Hospital and Community Settings in Australia

This study examined the interface between emergency departments and community general practice in terms of their delivery of primary care services. Through the collection of casemix and treatment data, and interviews with patients, information was gathered relating to the extent of primary care deli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quality assurance in health care 1993-06, Vol.5 (2), p.131-141
Main Authors: Keith, A.R., Pirkis, J.E., Viney, R.C., Katz, C.M., Lagaida, R.M., Britt, H., Baden, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ambulatory Care - utilization
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Emergency Service, Hospital - standards
Emergency Service, Hospital - utilization
Family Practice
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Morbidity
New South Wales
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Primary Health Care
Quality Assurance, Health Care
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Summary:This study examined the interface between emergency departments and community general practice in terms of their delivery of primary care services. Through the collection of casemix and treatment data, and interviews with patients, information was gathered relating to the extent of primary care delivery in emergency departments, problems managed and treatments provided in the two settings and patients' characteristics and reasons for choosing to seek primary care in the emergency department. The results indicate a high proportion of primary care delivery is in emergency departments, and that there is a need for delivery in this setting to continue. The results are discussed in terms of such quality assurance issues as monitoring primary care in emergency departments and addressing patient needs. El estudio examina la interfase entre los ser vicios de urgencia y los centros de salud de la comunidad mediante la evaluación de la atención primaria dispensada. Se recogío información de las urgencias correspondientes a visitas de atención primaria realizadas en los servicios de urgencias: problemas atendidos, tratamientos efectuados, características de los pacientes y razones para acudir al Servicio de Urgencias mediante el estudio de los casos atendidos, los datos relativos al tratamiento y entrevistas con los pacientes. Los resultados indican que una alta proporción de la atención primaria se está dispensando en los Servicios de Urgencia y que existe una necesidad de que siga siendo así. Se discuten los resultados tanto desde el punto de vista de la calidad (monitorizar la atención primaria realizada en los Servicios de Urgencias) como de la valoración de las necesidades de los pacientes.
ISSN:1040-6166