RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Office-based procedures among urban and rural family physicians in Ontario
JF Canadian Family Physician
JO Can Fam Physician
FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada
SP e578
OP e587
VO 58
IS 10
A1 R. Liisa Jaakkimainen
A1 Priya R. Sood
A1 Susan E. Schultz
YR 2012
UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/58/10/e578.abstract
AB Objective To compare FP and GP performance of office-based procedures between urban and rural practices. Design Descriptive cohort study using health administrative data. Setting Ontario. Participants All FPs and GPs who billed the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for at least 1 office-based procedure between January 1 and December 31, 2006 (N = 8648). Main outcome measures Ontario Health Insurance Plan billings for office-based procedures were adjusted by full-time equivalent (FTE) so that the means are for 1 FTE. Office-based procedures were grouped into 1) surgical procedures, 2) injections and immunizations, 3) electrocardiograms (ECGs), and 4) venipunctures and laboratory tests. The analyses were stratified for FP and GP age, sex, rurality of practice, and participation in a primary care model. Results There were no substantial differences between FPs and GPs in rural practices compared with those in more urban practices with respect to surgical procedures. Rural FPs and GPs had lower mean numbers of injections and immunizations, ECGs, and venipunctures and laboratory tests than FPs and GPs practising in urban areas. Family physicians and GPs in primary care models had a lower mean number of surgical procedures but a higher adjusted mean number of injections and immunizations, ECGs, and venipunctures and laboratory tests. Conclusion For those procedures that are not dependent on specialist backup or access to more advanced technology, there were no substantial differences between rural and urban FPs and GPs. All comprehensive FPs and GPs should be able to provide these services to their patients. Training programs for all family medicine residents should ensure future FPs and GPs are able to perform these procedures.