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General practitioner service provision in residential aged care facilities: 1998–2011
Author(s) -
Taylor Michael J,
Edvardsson David,
Horey Dell,
Fetherstonhaugh Deirdre,
Nay Rhonda,
Swerissen Hal
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2012.00647.x
Subject(s) - aged care , service delivery framework , service (business) , medicine , odds , population ageing , older people , population , environmental health , health services , family medicine , gerontology , nursing , business , logistic regression , marketing
Aim To examine the general practitioner ( GP ) consultation patterns for primary health‐care services provided in residential aged care facilities ( RACFs ) by consultation type. Method Analyses of service provision and RACF population data for the period 1998–2011. All M edicare‐subsidised services provided by GPs across A ustralia in RACFs were included and categorised by consultation type and by time of service delivery (business or after‐hours). Results Overall service delivery increased from 12 118 per 1000 residents in financial year ( FY ) 1998–99 to 17 079 per 1000 residents in F Y2010–11, a 41% increase. Since FY 2007–08, the rate of brief consultations has grown by an average of 20% each year. Delivery of after‐hours consultations also increased. Conclusions The pattern of GP services provided in RACFs has changed substantially over time. To some extent these changes reflect regulatory adjustments; however, the pattern is at odds with the ever‐increasing dependence levels of residents.