Primary Care Units in Emilia-Romagna, Italy: An Assessment of Organizational Culture. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pracilio, Valerie P.; Keith, Scott W.; McAna, John; Rossi, Giuseppina; Brianti, Ettore; Fabi, Massimo; Maio, Vittorio
• Is Part Of: American journal of medical quality. Volume 29:Number 5(2014:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 430
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: organizational culture -- primary care -- primary care units (PCUs) -- Medical Group Practice Culture Assessment (MGPCA); Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Utilization review -- Periodicals; Medical care -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1177/1062860613501375
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1062-8606

Abstract

This study investigates the organizational culture and associated characteristics of the newly established primary care units (PCUs)—collaborative teams of general practitioners (GPs) who provide patients with integrated health care services—in the Emilia-Romagna Region (RER), Italy. A survey instrument covering 6 cultural dimensions was administered to all 301 GPs in 21 PCUs in the Local Health Authority (LHA) of Parma, RER; the response rate was 79.1%. Management style, organizational trust, and collegiality proved to be more important aspects of PCU organizational culture than information sharing, quality, and cohesiveness. Cultural dimension scores were positively associated with certain characteristics of the PCUs including larger PCU size and greater proportion of older GPs. The presence of female GPs in the PCUs had a negative impact on collegiality, organizational trust, and quality. Feedback collected through this assessment will be useful to the RER and LHAs for evaluating and guiding improvements in the PCUs.