Which strategies might improve local primary healthcare in Germany? An explorative study from a local government point of view.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Facing rising inequities and poorer accessibility of physicians in rural areas, new healthcare delivery structures are being considered to support local healthcare in German communities. To better understand perspectives on and attitudes towards different supplementary models, we examined attitudes among local politicians in the German federal state of Lower Saxony towards the suitability of supplementary care models.

Methods

As part of a cross-sectional study, we surveyed local politicians in Lower Saxony at the local authority and district levels (n = 449) by mail questionnaire. We asked for an assessment of four potential supplementary healthcare models at the local level: the use of trained medical assistants, patients' buses, mobile physicians' offices, and t

SUBMITTER: Kuhn B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5738820 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature