The AIHW today released General practice activity in Australia 2008-9. This report presents results from a national study of general practice activity called the BEACH program. From April 2008 to March 2009, 1,011 general practitioners recorded data about 101,100 GP-patient encounters involving the management of 149,462 problems. For an 'average' 100 encounters, GPs recorded 106 medications, 34 clinical treatments, 17 procedures, 9 referrals to specialists and 4 to allied health services, and ordered 46 pathology and 10 imaging tests.
In addition, the AIHW published General practice activity in Australia 1999-00 to 2008-09: 10 year data tables which also stems from the BEACH program and details changes that have occurred over the last decade in the characteristics of general practitioners and the patients they see; the problems managed and the treatments provided. "In adult patients aged 18 years and over, between 1999–00 and 2008–09 prevalence of overweight increased from 33% to 36%, obesity from 19% to 25%, daily smoking decreased from 19% to 15% and at-risk alcohol consumption remained static at 26%."
More than 85% of the population visit a GP at least once in any year. From March 2008 to April 2009, there were about 112 million general practice consultations paid for by Medicare, up from 101 million in 1999–00; an average of 5.1 per person, a similar visit rate to 1999–00 (5.4 visits per head). The GPs themselves are aging, feminising and becoming more qualified.
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