Performance of new alternative providers of primary care services in England: an observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Health system reforms in England are opening broad areas of clinical practice to new providers of care. As part of these reforms, new entrants--including private companies--have been allowed into the primary care market under 'alternative provider of medical services' contracting mechanisms since 2004. The characteristics and performance of general practices working under new alternative provider contracts are not well described. We sought to compare the quality of care provided by new entrant providers to that provided by the traditional model of general practice.

Design

Open cohort study of English general practices. We used linear regression in cross-sectional and time series analyses, adjusting for practice and population characteristics, to compare quality in

SUBMITTER: Greaves F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4484211 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature