Transforming Primary Care in Ireland: Information, Incentives, and Provider Capabilities

摘要: Ireland’s health system is at a key turning point. The Irish government was newly elected in February 2011, and the policy directions adopted over coming months will likely exert major impact on performance for many years. Drawing recent international experience with measurement financial incentives, this paper examines strategies enhancing quality value system, focusing predominantly role of primary care.Three take-home messages emerge from literature. First, substantial improvements care often can be attained reasonable cost, such as through use checklists evidence-based clinical pathways, or by better aligning skills providers to patients’ need. Second, rigorous vital tool improvement that lacking Ireland, could particularly powerful if underpinned risk-adjustment enable reliable evaluation outcomes. Pilot projects are required examine feasibility these techniques context. Third, although pay-for-performance prominent strategy, little evidence exists support its purported benefits it negative effects. Incentives unlikely effective lack capability respond appropriately, therefore imperative foster professionalism pride high-quality care, develop managerial necessary high performance.