The impact of primary care on emergency department presentation and hospital admission with pneumonia: a case-control study of preschool-aged children.

BACKGROUND: In children, community-acquired pneumonia is a frequent cause of emergency department (ED) presentation and hospital admission. Quality primary care may prevent some of these hospital visits. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify primary care factors associated with ED presentation and hospital admission of preschool-aged children with community-acquired pneumonia. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted by enrolling three groups: children presenting to the ED with pneumonia and admitted (n = 326), or discharged home (n = 179), and well-neighbourhood controls (n = 351). Interviews with parents and primary care staff were conducted and health record review was performed. The association of primary care factors with ED presentation and hospital admission, controlling for available confounding factors, was determined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Children were more likely to present to the ED with pneumonia if they did not have a usual general practitioner (GP) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.67-3.70), their GP worked ⩽ 20 h/week (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.10-3.13) or their GP practice lacked an immunisation recall system (OR = 5.44, 95% CI = 2.26-13.09). Lower parent ratings for continuity (OR=1.63, 95% CI = 1.01-2.62), communication (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.29-3.14) and overall satisfaction (OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.34-3.47) increased the likelihood of ED presentation. Children were more likely to be admitted when antibiotics were prescribed in primary care (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.43-4.55). Hospital admission was less likely if children did not have a usual GP (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.11-0.40) or self-referred to the ED (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Accessible and continuous primary care is associated with a decreased likelihood of preschool-aged children with pneumonia presenting to the ED and an increased likelihood of hospital admission, implying more appropriate referral. Lower parental satisfaction is associated with an increased likelihood of ED presentation.

General practice and the New Zealand health reforms--lessons for Australia?

New Zealand's health sector has undergone three significant restructures within 10 years. The most recent has involved a Primary Health Care Strategy, launched in 2001. Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), administered by 21 District Health Boards, are the local structures for implementing the Primary Health Care Strategy. Ninety-three percent of the New Zealand population is now enrolled within 79 PHOs, which pose a challenge to the well-established Independent Practitioner Associations (IPAs). Although there was initial widespread support for the philosophy underlying the Primary Health Care Strategy, there are concerns amongst general practitioners (GPs) and their professional organisations relating to its implementation. These centre around 6 main issues: 1. Loss of autonomy, 2. Inadequate management funding and support, 3. Inconsistency and variations in contracting processes, 4. Lack of publicity and advice around enrollment issues, 5. Workforce and workload issues, 6. Financial risks. On the other hand, many GPs are feeling positive regarding the opportunities for PHOs, particularly for being involved in the provision of a wider range of community health services. Australia has much to learn from New Zealand's latest health sector and primary health care reforms. The key lessons concern: The need for a national primary health care strategy, active engagement of general practitioners and their professional organisations, recognition of implementation costs, the need for infrastructural support, including information technology and quality systems, robust management and governance arrangements, issues related to critical mass and population/distance trade offs in service delivery models.