This is a past event
Jamie O’Halloran, PhD Student at the Danish Centre for Health Economics, University of Southern Denmark, will present on his research. There is a sandwich lunch available at 1pm.
Title: Time to retire? Changes in GP behaviour prior to retirement.
Abstract: In many healthcare systems, a large proportion of general practitioners (GPs) are retiring. This study aims to investigate whether and when GPs change their treatment behaviour in the years prior to retirement. Using detailed Danish administrative data, we exploit a balanced sample of Danish GPs from 2005 to 2016 and compare retiring GPs’ treatment patterns with non-retiring GPs. In addition, we create a matched sample of retiring GPs to minimise the observable differences between the two groups.
We find evidence of retiring GPs having fewer patients on their lists four years prior to retirement, which is primarily driven by more patients choosing to leave rather than fewer patients choosing to enter. There is also limited evidence of GPs reducing the number of home visits conducted. We observe no other changes in how retiring GPs treat their patients.
We conclude that there is some evidence of retiring GPs changing behaviour. The changes observed are modest in magnitude and there is no observable difference in the quality of care being provided which is reassuring for both patients and policy makers. Therefore, it seems to be a reasonable policy to attempt to retain retiring GPs as a way to help relieve staffing shortages.
Details of other forthcoming HERU Seminars are available on the Seminars page of the website.
- Speaker
- Jamie O'Halloran
- Hosted by
- Dr Verity Watson
- Venue
- HSB 115, Health Services Building