Spent weeks being sent from doctor to doctor? Medical care doesn't have to be that way!
Spent weeks being sent from doctor to doctor? Medical care doesn't have to be that way!
Referral, waiting list, appointment in eight weeks, and no one has an overview. Why this costs you time in an emergency, and how a primary care centre resolves this differently.
Referral, waiting list, appointment in eight weeks, and no one has an overview. Why this costs you time in an emergency, and how a primary care centre resolves this differently.
A primary care centre is not just a larger GP practice. It is a completely different setup: at least two GPs work permanently with qualified nursing staff and other healthcare professionals in a coordinated way, all under one roof. [1]
You will really notice the difference exactly where traditional individual practices reach their limits: during holiday closures, with test results getting lost between different surgeries, and with appointments that only become available weeks down the line.
What a primary care centre does differently in practice
In our facility, general practitioners, qualified nurses and therapists work in the same building and as part of the same team. As a result, your medical findings remain within our centre instead of being passed from one practice to another; the next step of your treatment is planned here rather than being left as a task for you to manage, and preventive care is an integral part of our services, not an afterthought for which there is no time.
Why longer opening hours are not just a marketing promise
A single-handed practice closes when the physician is on annual leave or attending professional training. A team, however, can provide cross-coverage. For this reason, primary care units in Austria are required to offer extended and reliable opening hours. [2] This is where the model pays off most noticeably in daily life: you get an appointment when you need it, and not only after a practice closure.
Who is in the team
The core team consists of general practitioners and qualified healthcare and nursing staff. Depending on the location, this is supplemented by other professional groups, such as physiotherapists, dietitians, social workers or psychotherapists. [3]
Chronic diseases: Where the difference is greatest
For conditions such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension or COPD, the course of the disease is not determined by a single appointment, but by continuity of care. The structure of a primary care centre is designed precisely for this purpose. We conduct structured follow-up examinations, document progress seamlessly and adjust therapy before parameters deviate significantly. Gesundheit Österreich GmbH describes this coordinated long-term care as one of the core tasks of this model. [4]
What a primary care centre does differently in practice
In our facility, general practitioners, qualified nurses and therapists work in the same building and as part of the same team. As a result, your medical findings remain within our centre instead of being passed from one practice to another; the next step of your treatment is planned here rather than being left as a task for you to manage, and preventive care is an integral part of our services, not an afterthought for which there is no time.
Why longer opening hours are not just a marketing promise
A single-handed practice closes when the physician is on annual leave or attending professional training. A team, however, can provide cross-coverage. For this reason, primary care units in Austria are required to offer extended and reliable opening hours. [2] This is where the model pays off most noticeably in daily life: you get an appointment when you need it, and not only after a practice closure.
Who is in the team
The core team consists of general practitioners and qualified healthcare and nursing staff. Depending on the location, this is supplemented by other professional groups, such as physiotherapists, dietitians, social workers or psychotherapists. [3]
Chronic diseases: Where the difference is greatest
For conditions such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension or COPD, the course of the disease is not determined by a single appointment, but by continuity of care. The structure of a primary care centre is designed precisely for this purpose. We conduct structured follow-up examinations, document progress seamlessly and adjust therapy before parameters deviate significantly. Gesundheit Österreich GmbH describes this coordinated long-term care as one of the core tasks of this model. [4]
“Because health is important to everyone. No matter where you come from or who you are.”
“Because health is important to everyone. No matter where you come from or who you are.”
“Because health is important to everyone. No matter where you come from or who you are.”
What this means for your next appointment
You do not need to know which professional group you require. That is our job. You present with a concern, and we clarify internally who will assess it and what the most appropriate next step is.
The PVZ Primärversorgungszentrum (Primary Care Centre) in Vienna's Josefstadt is open to all statutory health insurance funds as well as private patients. You can find all services in the services overview; appointments can be made under Appointment and Contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a primary care centre?
An expanded general practice clinic where at least two general practitioners work permanently alongside qualified nursing staff and other healthcare professionals. In Austria, this is legally regulated as a primary care unit (PVE).
How much does treatment in a primary care centre cost?
For patients with statutory health insurance, there is no charge. We are open to all statutory health insurance funds. Private services are listed separately.
Do I need a referral?
No. A primary care centre is the first point of contact. You come directly, just as you would to a general practitioner.
What is the difference to a standard general practitioner's clinic?
Primarily three things: extended and reliable opening hours with no closures for holidays, a multi-professional team in the same building, and internal coordination instead of referral chains.
Can I simply switch if I am an existing patient?
Yes. You do not need anything other than your e-card. It is best to bring existing medical findings with you to your first appointment.
Sources
What this means for your next appointment
You do not need to know which professional group you require. That is our job. You present with a concern, and we clarify internally who will assess it and what the most appropriate next step is.
The PVZ Primärversorgungszentrum (Primary Care Centre) in Vienna's Josefstadt is open to all statutory health insurance funds as well as private patients. You can find all services in the services overview; appointments can be made under Appointment and Contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a primary care centre?
An expanded general practice clinic where at least two general practitioners work permanently alongside qualified nursing staff and other healthcare professionals. In Austria, this is legally regulated as a primary care unit (PVE).
How much does treatment in a primary care centre cost?
For patients with statutory health insurance, there is no charge. We are open to all statutory health insurance funds. Private services are listed separately.
Do I need a referral?
No. A primary care centre is the first point of contact. You come directly, just as you would to a general practitioner.
What is the difference to a standard general practitioner's clinic?
Primarily three things: extended and reliable opening hours with no closures for holidays, a multi-professional team in the same building, and internal coordination instead of referral chains.
Can I simply switch if I am an existing patient?
Yes. You do not need anything other than your e-card. It is best to bring existing medical findings with you to your first appointment.
Sources
Ready for the path to recovery?
Ready for the path to recovery?
If you enjoyed this article, then you probably feel exactly the same way we do: the urge to take action and really make a difference. But why should you stop at just reading? Join us and become part of what we are building here.
If you enjoyed this article, then you probably feel exactly the same way we do: the urge to take action and really make a difference. But why should you stop at just reading? Join us and become part of what we are building here.
