[Models of care for ambulatory healthcare in Austria: situation--analysis--outlook]

Abstract

Ambulatory patient care in Austria is provided by self-employed, office-based physicians, independent ambulatory care centres and outpatient clinics where patients are basically free to choose among these options. The level of care in the ambulatory setting can--despite known regional variations--also be regarded as high quality. Nevertheless, there seems to be a need for reform, the more so as the average number of medical consultations appears to be relatively high in Austria. Furthermore, patient interests would have to be considered even more by strongly promoting the establishment of knowledge hubs in organisation forms which are able to meet the specific requirements (group practices, medical service centres, etc.).