THE INFLUENCES OF GROUP AND INDEPENDENT GENERAL PRACTICE ON PATIENT CARE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN ONTARIO.

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  • 24 July 1965
    • journal article
    • Vol. 93  (4) , 147-57
Abstract
When the practices of four general practitioners, members of multispecialist-general practitioner salaried groups (clinic doctors) were compared with those of four independent general practitioners (solo practitioners), it was noted that: group practice patients had more office laboratory investigation and greater in-hospital consultation and referral. On the other hand, independent practitioners' patients seemed to receive more personal attention from the doctor, a fuller explanation of diagnosis and treatment during office hours, more drug samples and more laboratory investigation in hospital.Group and independent practices are similar with respect to the rate of follow-up visits, the volume of preventive medicine, the number of radiographs and special procedures, the total number of drugs ordered, and the in-hospital formal written consultation rate and office consultation rate.The similarities between two types of practice may be a result of the interaction of group and independent practice in the same community.It is concluded that the team approach to medical care is not incompatible with independent practice.

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