Utilization of acute medical services in general practice: a retrospective routine data analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The increasing utilization of emergency departments by patients with acute but non-emergency medical needs contributes to overcrowding in emergency care. Previous research has mainly focused on hospitals and out-of-hours care centres. The role of general practitioners providing primary care during office hours for emergency and acutely ill patients has not yet been considered intensively. This analysis aimed to quantify and describe the documented outpatient utilization behaviour of patients with acute care needs in primary care practices during office hours.

Methods

The retrospective cohort study used routine data from 16 German primary care practices in 2022 and 2023 from the Supraregional Health Service Research Network. Acute care cases were identified as cons

SUBMITTER: Strumann C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12333268 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature