Evaluation of Macarthur GP after hours service - Stage 2
Project Status
Completed
Chief Coordinator
Nicholas Zwar
Chief Investigators
Iqbal Hasan, Rene Pennock, Satish Goyal, Sharon Smith
Rationale
MGPAS is a subsidiary of the Macarthur Division of General Practice. The service is funded through a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. An evaluation of the service for the funding period 2002-03 was conducted by the same evaluation team. The major focus of the 1st evaluation was to examine the service in terms of access, quality of care, satisfaction, appropriateness, efficiency and sustainability. The current evaluation, for the funding period 2004-05, looked at the service in terms of the same factors. In addition, an economic evaluation was conducted to compare patient case mix costings between the service and Campbelltown Hospital emergency department.
Aim
The aim of the evaluation was to further evaluate the model of after-hours GP service in terms of access, quality, appropriateness, efficiency, satisfaction & sustainability.
Design and Method
Mixed-method approach -- both qualitative and quantitative methods which included:
- Analysis of Cambelltown Hospital EDIS data
- Analysis of the After-hours Service patient attendance records
- Analysis of Health Insurance Commission GP after-hours claims
- Survey of Macarthur residents
- Patient satisfaction survey
- GP surveys (participating, non-participating & GPs who resigned)
- Survey of Medical Practices in Macarthur
- Interviews with aged care & ambulatory care services staff
- Key stakeholders interviews
- Analysis of Campbelltown Hospital & the After-hours Service financial data
Key Publications
A final report submitted to the funding body (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing)
