Differences in patient throughput between community health centre and private general practitioners

This study sought to compare the rate of patient throughput by community health centre general practitioners (GPs) and their private practice fee-for-service counterparts. The study group comprised 44 community health centre GPs (out of an identified 51) in 16 community health centres; the control group comprised 268 GPs. Community health centre GPs were found to have significantly fewer consultants and significantly smaller rebates than their private practice counterparts. The difference of means for consultation numbers and rebates was 30.3 per cent. The pattern was reversed in the case of rural community health centre GPs (who retain fee-for-service arrangements). Figures are uncorrected for patient status, and data relate to Medicare billing practices rather than observed activity or outcome. However, at face value they would indicate that if Australian general practice moved to a community health centre model, with predominantly salaried GPs, then patient throughput in general practice could be expected to drop. Whether these reflect the impact of incentives on throughput and, if so, whether this indicates a difference in the quality or accessibility of the service provided to patients is not certain.