title: Analysis of primary health care utilisation in south-western Finland--a tool for management.
abstract: Long-term health care planning is presently not based on the needs of the population at the local level in Finland but rather, it is based on retroactive economic values and already realised budget in hospital and primary health care. The existing health care structure and its health care practices continue to guide the supply of services. While we have the most extensive databases on primary health care and hospital services, such tools are not used in the broadest possible sense in the present health care planning at the local level. Simple and informative indicators available to health care planners and decision-makers from databases at the local level were used to appraise the use of health care services. Statistical profiles of health care clients were classified by age groups within the health authority area (population of 13,000) of Paimio-Sauvo in south-western Finland with the intent to explain utilisation of primary health care services, their coverage, and repeat visits as well as groups not using those services. Physicians recorded reasons for each patient visit with the ICD-10 categories. In the case municipalities, primary health care services provided 100% coverage to children of 0-6 years of age and more than 70% coverage to other groups. Most primary health care expenditures were assessed for people 65 years or older in 2000. As an example of a municipality, hospital and primary health care expenditures within Paimio varied from 24 to 30.4% of the total obligations for the last 10 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland. paivi.ovaskainen@utu.fi
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ovaskainen
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Rautava
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ojanlatva
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Päkkilä
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Päivärinta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management; D005387:Finland; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class