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Cost-effectiveness of primary care services provided by nurses' private clinics in Thailand
Somchit Hanucharurnkul
Professor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Yuwadee Leucha
Associate Professor; Director, MNS Program, Mahidol University, Thailand
Piyakorn Chutungkorn
Associate Professor, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
Suwanna Chantraprasert
Associate Professor, Burapha University, Thailand
Supranee Athaseri
Associate Professor, Srinakarin University, Thailand
Naiyana Noonill
Doctoral Student, Mahidol University, Thailand
Abstract
The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of primary care provided at nurses' private clinics in Thailand. The sample consisted of 63 nurses' private clinics and 3518 clients. These clinics were selected by multi-stage random sampling. An observation sheet and three questionnaires were used to collect the data. The data indicated that Nurses' private clinics can provide services for about 90% of the clients' problem at the primary care level at about a 50% lower cost than physicians' services. Thus, nurses' private clinics' services should be included in the reimbursement criteria of the national health care system. For nurses who run their own clinics, the Thailand Nursing Council should require additional training and certification in primary medical care. Nurses' private clinics should extend to home care service for people in the nearby area.
Keywords
private clinic, primary care, nursing clinic, independent practice
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