Time optimization in primary care - chronic prescription cost

Autores da FMUP

• Ricardo João Cruz Correia

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Leite-Costa, T
• Rodrigues, D
• Sa, F

Unidades de investigação

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• Medicina da Comunidade, Informação e Decisão em Saúde

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

IntroductionTime optimization is a common goal to most health information institutions. In several countries, chronic electronic renewal prescriptions were one of the main focuses when implementing information systems. In Portugal, Electronic Medical Prescription (PEM (R)) software is used for most electronic prescriptions. This study aims to quantify the time spent in chronic prescription renewal appointments (CPRA) in primary care and its impact in the Portuguese National Health System (SNS).MethodsEight general practitioners (GP) were included in the study during February 2022. The average duration of 100 CPRA was obtained. To determine the number of CPRA performed every year, a primary care BI-CSP (R) platform was used. Using Standard Cost Model and average medical doctor hourly rate in Portugal we estimated CPRA global costs.ResultsEach doctor spent on average 1:55 +/- 01:07 min per CPRA. There were 8295 GP working in 2022. A total 635 561 CPRA were performed in 2020 and 774 346 in 2021. In 2020, CPRA costs ranged 303 088 +/- 179 419euro, and in 2021 that number increased to 369 272 +/- 218 599euro.ConclusionThis is the first study to quantify CPRAs real cost in Portugal. A PEM (R) software update would allow daily savings, ranging from 830euro (+/- 491euro) in 2020 and 1011euro (+/- 598euro) in 2021. That change could allow hiring 8 +/- 5 GP in 2020 and 12 +/- 7 in 2021.

Keywords

• Ethnicity; General Practitioners; Humans; Income; Prescriptions; Primary Health Care; article; electronic prescribing; general practitioner; human; physician; Portugal; prescription; primary medical care; public health; software; ethnicity; general practitioner; income; primary health care