Table 1 The main characteristics of models of primary care in the intervention and control counties
Intervention county | Control county | |
|---|---|---|
Referral System | Vertical reciprocal referral system among different types of medical institutions | No apparent referral system arranged by the hospitals or CHCs |
Care Management | Computerized clinical pathways | No clinical pathway |
Payment System | Case-based payment | Fee-for-service |
Incentive for Care Providers | Performance-based payment | No performance-based payment |
Health IT System | Integrated information system whereby CHCs and hospitals share patients’ information | Internal information system at the hospital, but not connected to other facilities, such as the County Hospital or CHCs |