Evaluation of "Physicians attached permanently to care centres"

This report evaluates the pilot project "physicians attached permanently to care centres”, which ran from 2012 to 2014. The overall objective of the project is to create better quality for residents at seven care centres by attaching a permanent physician to the centres to strengthen communication and cooperation between the care centres and general practitioners. This cooperation will create higher professional insight, better handling of medication, greater continuity in care and treatment courses, and reduce the number of hospital admissions. The evaluation shows that there has been a reduction in hospital admissions for residents at the seven care centres, that contact with out-of-hours medical services has been reduced, and that medication management improved during the pilot project. In addition, the cooperation between physician and nursing staff improves when a permanent physician is attached. Physicians and nursing staff assess that the care and treatment courses of residents have been improved by the pilot project. The perspectives of the project also include financial advantages. This report was commissioned by the National Board of Social Services, which is also responsible for project management of the pilot project.