Organisation and characteristics of out-of-hours primary care during a COVID-19 outbreak: A real-time observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, general practitioners worldwide re-organise care in very different ways because of the lack of evidence-based protocols.

Objective

This paper describes the organisation and the characteristics of consultations in Belgian out-of-hours primary care during five weekends at the peak of a COVID-19 outbreak and compares it to a similar period in 2019.

Methods

Real-time observational study using pseudonymised routine clinical data extracted out of reports from home visits, telephone- and physical consultations (iCAREdata). Nine general practice cooperatives (GPCs) participated covering a population of 1 513 523.

Results

All GPCs rapidly re-organised care in order to handle the outbreak and provide a safe working environment. Th

SUBMITTER: Morreel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7425859 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature