RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The need to improve inter-professional cooperation encourages the grouping of primary care professionals in multi professional structures such as primary care practices. The objective of this study was to assess the implementation,organization and operation of primary care practices (PCP) in the French Rhone-Alpes region. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey by self-administered questionnaire of healthcare providers in charge of PCPs in RhOne-Alpes. RESULTS: The study included 35 PCPs across the 8 departments of the RhOne-Alpes region. Most (86%) had been operational since 2009. The number of professionals per PCP ranged from 6 to 30 with a median of 12. The most common~ represented occupations were nurses (125),general practitioners (105) and physical therapists(59). Inter-professional cooperation was based on multidisciplinary consultation meetings in 68% of PCPs and 74% share delectronic patient records. The majority of PCPs (54%) were located in areas with insufficient access to healthcare. Most PCPs(91%) were accessible to people with reduced mobility, 49% had opening hours of more than 60 hours per week, and 54% reported frequent use of third-party payment. CONCLUSION: Dynamic of implementation of PCPs appeared to reflect an attraction of health professionals to collective practices.This trend is consistent with French health care strategy.