Whither Divisions of General Practice? An empirical and policy analysis of the impact of Divisions within the Australian health care system

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of Divisions of General Practice on various measures of primary care performance. DESIGN AND SETTING: Regression analysis using longitudinal data across Australia. PARTICIPANTS: All Divisions of General Practice between 2002 and 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fourteen indicators of primary care performance in the areas of general practice infrastructure, access, multidisciplinary working, chronic disease, and measurable aspects of quality of care. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2004, Divisions and the activities they performed were associated with a number of measures of primary care performance, particularly measures of general practice infrastructure. Of the total..