Trends towards stronger primary care in three western European countries; 2006-2012

BMC Family Practice

Research Article

Stephanie Heinemann¹  Richard Baker²  Michael J. van den Berg³  Gert P. Westert⁴  Marjan J. Faber⁴  Tessa van Loenen⁵ 

[1] Department of General Practice, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany;Department of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, Fulda, Germany;Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK;National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands;Department of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 114 IQ healthcare, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 114 IQ healthcare, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands;

关键词: Primary health care;    Healthcare systems;    Continuity of care;    Accessibility of care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12875-016-0458-3

 received in 2015-11-26, accepted in 2016-05-20,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundStrong primary care systems are believed to have an important role in dealing with healthcare challenges. Strengthening primary care systems is therefore a common policy goal for many countries. This study aims to investigate whether the Netherlands, the UK and Germany have strengthened their primary care systems in 2006-2012.MethodFor this cross-sectional study, data from the International Health Policy surveys of the Commonwealth Fund in 2006, 2009 and 2012 were used. The surveys represent the experiences and perspectives of primary care physicians with their primary care system. The changes over time were researched in three areas: organization of primary care processes, use of IT in primary care and use of benchmarking and financial incentives for performance improvement.ResultsRegarding organization of primary care processes, in all countries the use of supporting personnel in general practice increased, but at the same time practice accessibility decreased. IT services were most advanced in the UK. The UK and the Netherlands showed increased use of performance feedback information. German GPs were least satisfied with how their system works across the 2006-2012 timeframe.ConclusionAll three countries show trends towards stronger primary care systems, although in different areas. Coordination and comprehensive care through the assignment of assisting personnel and use of disease management programs improved in all countries. In the Netherlands and the UK, informational continuity is in part ensured through better IT services. All countries showed increasing difficulties upholding primary care accessibility.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016