Table 1 Criteria for defining primary care, according to Starfield [8].
Aspect of primary care | Main elements of each aspect of care |
|---|---|
1. First-contact care | â–ª Easy access (geographically and opening hours) â–ª Accessibility and utilisation by defined patient population |
2. Coordination of care | â–ª Scheduling arranged to allow patients to see the same primary care provider each visit â–ª Continuity of medical records â–ª 'Problem recognition' - follow up on status of previously identified problems at subsequent visits |
3. Comprehensiveness | â–ª Range of care services provided â–ª Services provided made explicit to the patient population â–ª Practitioners recognise a broad spectrum of needs within their patients |
4. Longitudinality | â–ª Patients identify the practice facility as their regular/main source of care over a period of time |