Co-location of out of Hours Primary Care and Emergency Department in Belgium: Patients' and Physicians' View

Overview

Journal BMC Health Serv Res

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Health Services

Date 2021 Mar 27

PMID 33771152

Citations 5

Authors

Birgitte Schoenmakers

Jasper Van Criekinge

Timon Boeve

Jonas Wilms

Chris Van der Mullen

Marc Sabbe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: In Belgium, General Practitioner Cooperatives (GPC) aim to improve working conditions for unplanned care and to reduce the number of low acuity emergency visits. Although this system is well organized, the number of low acuity visits does not decrease.

Methods: We explored the view of patients and physicians on the co-location of a GPC and an emergency service for unplanned care. The study was carried out in a cross section design in primary and emergency care services and included patients and physicians. Main outcome measure was the view of patients and physician on co-location of a GPC and an emergency service.

Results: 404 patients and 488 physicians participated. 334 (82.7%) of all patients favoured a co-location. The major advantages were fast service (104, 25.7) and adequate referral (54, 13.4%). 237 (74%) of the GPs and 38 (95%) of the emergency physicians were in favour of a co-location. The major advantage was a more adequate referral of patients. 254 (79%) of the GPs and 23 (83%) of the emergency physicians believed that a co-location would lower the workload and waiting time and increase care quality (resp. 251 (78%), 224 (70%) and 37 (93%), 34 (85%).

Conclusions: To close the expectation gap between GP's, emergency physicians and to reach for high care quality, information campaigns and development of workflows are indispensable for a successful implementation of a co-location of primary and emergency care.

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Non-compliance with a nurse's advice to visit the primary care provider: an exploratory secondary analysis of the TRIAGE-trial.

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Morreel S, Philips H, De Graeve D, Monsieurs K, Kampen J, Meysman J PLoS One. 2021; 16(11):e0258561.

PMID: 34731198 PMC: 8565772. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258561.

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