Registered and unregistered patients in general practice: implications for primary health organisations.
OBJECTIVE
To describe differences between registered and unregistered patients in New Zealand general practice and assess patient registers prior to enrollment in primary health organisations (PHOs).


METHODS
Patient records from 35 computerised general practices made up the study data set. Data were assessed for the year 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. Patient registers and consultation files were examined to determine levels of recording of demographic data, consulting rates and date of last contact with practice for registered and unregistered patients. Prescription medications were coded to therapeutic groups for both patient groups.


RESULTS
Sixty seven per cent of patients were listed as not registered with their practice. Only 10% of unregistered patients consulted during the study year. At least 20% of all patients had no contact with their practice in the last three years. A high proportion of unregistered patients were aged 15-34 years. Unregistered patients were likely to be treated for minor ailments.


CONCLUSIONS
Unregistered patients constitute a distinct patient sub-population, with fewer holders of community service cards and high user health cards than registered patients, and they have a different age/sex profile. A substantial number of patients, both registered and unregistered, have had no contact with their practice in the last three years. Patient registers will require considerable updating prior to PHO enrollment.
Tomlin
Andrew
A
RNZCGP Research Unit, Department of General Practice, Dunedin School of Medicine, Dunedin, New Zealand. atomlin@gp.otago.ac.nz
Martin
Isobel
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010045:Outpatients / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries