Use of out of hours services: a comparison between two organisations

摘要: Objectives: To investigate differences in numbers and characteristics of patients using primary or emergency care because organisation out hours care. Background: Increasing self referrals at the accident (A&E) department cause overcrowding, while a substantial number these exhibit minor injuries that can be treated by general practitioner (GP). Methods: Two different organisations two Dutch cities (Heerlen Maastricht) were investigated. Important between are accessibility location facility (GP cooperative). The Heerlen GP cooperative is situated centre city respectively 5 km 9 away from A&E departments area Heerlen. This only visited appointment. Maastricht has free access located within local department. During three week period all registration forms patient contacts with department) collected respect to random sample one third was analysed. Results: For annual contact rate, as extrapolated our data, per 1000 inhabitants year 238 279 (χ 2 (1df) =4.385, p=0.036). rate (n=66) (n=52) not =1.765, p=0.184). Some 51.7% attending during referred, compared 15.9% =203.13, p Conclusions: optimised GP’s gatekeeper function thereby led fewer department,