From full-time to flexi: Investigating the impact of workforce shifts in primary care on service provision and quality
Speakers
Michael Freeman
Assistant Professor, INSEAD, Singapore
Michael Freeman is an Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations Management at INSEAD. His research focuses on healthcare operations, leveraging large empirical datasets and rigorous analysis to uncover actionable insights that inform practices to enhance healthcare delivery. This work centers on two key themes – improving patient routing and care continuity and assessing the impacts of organisational changes and predictive technologies on healthcare productivity and quality. He has published several papers in Management Science and M&SOM, and his research has also been recognized with various awards, including winning the 2016 MSOM Student Paper Competition. His research has also earned attention from media outlets (BBC, The Guardian, and others) and healthcare leaders, including the UK’s Royal College of Emergency Medicine and College of General Practitioners. Alongside research, Michael is an award-winning teacher at INSEAD, where he directs and teaches in executive education, the EMBA, MBA, and PhD programmes.
| Date: |
| Friday, 12 April 2024 |
| Time: |
| 10:00 am - 11:30 am |
| Venue: |
|
Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library HSS 3-1 1 Hon Sui Sen Drive Singapore 117588 (Map) |
Abstract
Primary care practices worldwide are experiencing a shift away from traditional full-time roles toward increased part-time and temporary staffing models. This transformation necessitates understanding the implications for primary healthcare delivery. Our paper provides an empirical analysis examining the evolving work patterns and schedules of general practitioners (GPs) in the UK over the past decade. Using primary care records, we first examine how GP work volume impacts healthcare service utilization and patient outcomes. We also explore factors that may mediate this relationship. Going further, given the seeming inevitability of more flexible staffing models, our investigation also aims to inform effective workforce strategies that optimise healthcare delivery. Specifically, we examine scheduling approaches that may allow primary care practices to adapt to part-time and locum GPs. Our findings aim to inform healthcare leaders seeking to adapt to emerging flexible staffing models while maintaining high-quality and accessible primary care.