Ontario primary care models: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Policy
• Physician Practice Patterns

Background:

• Ontario introduced diverse primary care models (2001-2006) including fee-for-service, capitation, and salary.
• Models incorporated patient enrolment and minimum group sizes.
• Study focuses on physician characteristics and practice patterns across these models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To statistically describe physician characteristics, group size, and patient visit patterns across Ontario's primary care models.
• To identify similarities and differences in primary care practice from a physician's perspective.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of administrative data for fiscal year 2010/11.
• Inclusion of data on physician characteristics, patient rostering, and visits.
• Descriptive comparison of practice patterns across different primary care models.

Main Results:

• Fee-for-service physicians are more likely to work part-time, especially younger and female physicians.
• Capitated model physicians are younger, less likely international medical graduates, and work in smaller, non-urban teams.
• Physician patient loads varied, with fee-for-service seeing the fewest and non-capitated models seeing the most.

Conclusions:

• Physician and practice characteristics differ significantly across primary care models.
• A substantial number of rostered patients receive care outside their registered physician group.
• Group-based primary care models may have limited impact on care integration and continuity.