GP : general practitioner or general pragmatist? : the plight of management within primary healthcare

Primary healthcare services hold an important role in Western healthcare systems. As the conduit to specialist and tertiary services, they can filter patient presentations, moderate patient-flow, and improve resource-use. For many consumers, general practitioners (GPs) represent the face of primary healthcare. As providers of healthcare in its broadest sense, they are the hub from which many services branch; GPs are therefore expected to be knowledgeable on evidence-based practices in all facets of health. Although many GPs receive such information from various sources, they seldom receive information on evidence-based management. This can have significant implications for GPs, their practices, and their patients. This paper examines management practices within the primary healthcare sector. Through interviews with 21 Australian GPs, this paper identifies current managerial needs, as well as opportunities to strengthen and sustain the viability of their practices. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.