Table 1

Description of the organisation and telephone triage of the two included models for out-of-hours primary care

GP cooperative (GPC)Medical helpline 1813 (MH-1813)
RegionCentral Denmark RegionCapital Region of Denmark
Population331.3 m citizens1.8 m citizens
Telephone calls in 201628701 000806 000
OrganiserGPs in the regionRegional administration
Organisation and services
  • Telephone consultations, home visits, and clinic consultations at the GPC

  • GPs are obliged to take part in the service

  • Telephone consultations and home visits run by MH-1813

  • Clinic consultations are located in hospital facilities and managed by EDs

Remuneration of professionalsFee for servicePayment by the hour
Triage modelGPs or GP trainees in their final year of specialty; no CDSS availableNurses who are obliged to use a CDSS and have option to redirect calls to a physician
GPs typically work 8 hour shifts and have approx. 1–4 shifts per month besides their daytime workPhysicians with different medical specialities (a minority being GPs)
Nurses work 8 hour shifts and are mostly fully employed at MH-1813.
Physicians work 8 hour shifts and are employed besides their daytime job
  • The triage models and organisations remain largely unchanged since 2014.

  • CDSS, computerised decision support system; EDs, Emergency Departments; GP, general practitioner.