Etablierung eines multiprofessionellen Primärversorgungszentrums – Erkenntnisse aus einer begleitenden Evaluation

Interprofessional primary care centers are proposed in order to meet future demands on healthcare. This can improve coordination between service providers and make patient care more holistic. Funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation, among others, the PORT Health Center Swabian Alb Hohenstein (GZH) was launched in 2019. The accompanying evaluation with a focus on implementation and the experiences of users will be presented here.

Based on a mixed-method evaluation along the PORT criteria, the implementation of services and structures, including interprofessional collaboration (IPC), is presented here descriptively. Satisfaction and experiences with the new form of care from the user perspective were collected in a written survey in three samples (2020–2022) and evaluated descriptively.

During the implementation phase, a general medicine, pediatric, physiotherapeutic and surgical practice was established on site, which was later complemented by psychiatric services and midwife services. A health guide supplemented the offer with regard to coordination and low-threshold general advice. In addition, more targeted advisory services with the care support center and early help were available. At the same time, offers on health promotion topics were established through the health department. Interprofessional cooperation took place informally through referrals or short contacts in the center. Case conferences (n = 12) were held between 01/2020 and 11/2020. Satisfaction with the center from a user perspective (score 8–32) was high, with values between 30.1 (sample I, standard deviation [SD] 2.3; n = 99) and 29.6 (sample II, SD 2.7; n = 116 or sample III, SD 2.97; n = 109). The cooperation between the professional groups was assessed positively.

With ample financial support and commitment, the center could be established and is growing in a rural region. The development over time shows that there the center was well accepted by the local population, and at the same time an attractive working environment could be created for medical staff. The established interprofessional collaboration within the center also might have contributed to this.