A named-GP model worked where GPs stayed, and stayed nominal where they did not

Design

Quasi-experimental before-and-after study with interrupted time series

Population

Patients of two public primary care units in Finland over 48 months

Primary outcome

Continuity indices (own patient ratio, SLICC, usual provider of care)

Effect

Own patient ratio 0.88 vs 0.40; SLICC 0.31 vs 0.16; UPC 0.35 in the stronger unit

Two Finnish primary care units assigned every patient a named GP for non-urgent care. The researchers tracked four years of consultations to see whether patients actually saw that doctor.

In one unit, the model became routine and most visits were with the named GP. In the other, it remained largely a label, and continuity with other doctors rose instead.

The authors link the difference to sustained GP presence and alignment of the organisation around the model. Continuity is consistently associated with better outcomes, but it has to be built into rotas and booking.

• In the successful unit, 88% of visits were with the named GP.
• In the other unit, only 40% were, despite the same policy.
• Overall continuity indices improved in both but stayed modest.
• The authors attribute the gap to sustained GP presence and organisational alignment.
• Measure the share of visits with the patient's own doctor to see whether a scheme is real.

Why it matters

Continuity schemes are often launched on paper; this shows that without organisational change, the label changes and the care does not.

Don't overread it

Two units in one country, compared before and after, cannot show which organisational factor mattered most.

The statistics, in plain English

The own patient ratio is the share of visits with the named GP. Continuity indices run from 0 to 1, so 0.31 to 0.35 is modest even in the better unit.

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