Table 1 Summary of quantitative variables analyzed, variables used, definitions, reference periods, and data sources

Accessibility

Patients enrolled with a family physician through the GACO

Number of patients enrolled with a family physician through the GACOs per 10,000 population per year

SIGACO, 2011 census data

Vulnerable patients enrolled with a family physician through the GACO

Number of vulnerable patients enrolled with a family physician through the GACOs per 10,000 population per year

SIGACO, 2011 census data

Continuity

Visits to the family physician with whom the patient was enrolled through the GACO

Mean annual number of visits to the family physician with whom the patient was enrolled through the GACO

RAMQ

Attendance rate

Annual rate of primary care visits with the physician with whom the patient was enrolled through the GACO compared with other primary care visits to a family physician, including in the ER, since the patient was enrolled with the family physician through the GACO

RAMQ

Medical team continuity

Annual rate of visits to the medical clinic where the physician with whom the patient is enrolled practises, compared with visits to other clinics, including the ER

RAMQ

ER use before/after GACO

ER visits

Mean annual number of visits to the ER both before and after enrollment with a family physician through the GACO

RAMQ

Rate of ER visits

Annual rate of visits to the ER compared with other primary care visits

RAMQ

Visits to the ER to see the family physician with whom the patient was enrolled through the GACO

Annual rate of visits in the ER with the family physician with whom the patient was enrolled through the GACO (exploratory), compared with other primary care visits since the patient was enrolled with that family physician through the GACO

RAMQ