Multi-professional health centres (MSP) are local healthcare structures. They bring together medical and paramedical health professionals. Within the same structure, the patient has access to different types of care and thus benefits from comprehensive care. What is the role of a health centre? What types of consultation are offered? What are the rates charged? Answer.
Capital Video: Health center: role, consultation and price
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– Consultation in a health center
What is a health home?
Multi-professional health center (MSP): definition
Multi-professional health centres (MSP) bring together medical and paramedical professionals, such as general practitioners, medical auxiliaries or dentists. Most often self-employed, they practice their profession under their own responsibility. There are 2,501 health centres in France.
A collective working framework
MSPs host an average of 14 to 15 professionals who share the same equipment. This collective working framework makes it possible to pool skills, human and financial resources, in order to facilitate patients’ access to care.
What is the role of a health center?
Facilitating access and continuity of care
The main role of a health center is to facilitate access to care in areas where demand is high and the supply of care is low. Such a structure has many advantages, for example:
- ensure continuity of care, even in the absence of the assigned practitioner;
- provide comprehensive patient care to ensure a coherent pathway;
- strengthen the health prevention policy;
- promote better coordination between different health professionals…
Consult several specialists within the same structure
Within the same structure, the patient can make an appointment with a general practitioner, then be referred, depending on the diagnosis, to a specialist. A person who is diagnosed with a sprain by their GP can, for example, make an appointment directly with a physiotherapist.
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What types of doctors can you consult in a multi-professional health center?
In a health center, it is possible to consult many so-called primary care health professionals. Depending on the range of care available, we find:
- general practitioners,
- advanced practice nurses,
- dentists,
- occupational therapists,
- midwives,
- physiotherapists…
Like pharmacists and dieticians, paramedical professions are also included in these health centers.
Who do we receive in a health center?
In a health center, anyone seeking medical care can make an appointment, whether it is primary or specialized care. In a non-exhaustive manner, patients can be elderly people, children or individuals with disabilities, patients suffering from chronic illness… There are therefore no typical profiles.
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What are the rates charged in a health center?
Within a health center, rates vary depending on the specialist, the medical or paramedical discipline or the sector of practice. Most doctors apply the conventional rates of Social Security without excess fees and third-party payment for certain patients. You should inquire with the health center secretariat or on Doctolib to find out the amount of the rates charged.
Who funds health centers?
Public funds
Health centres are partly financed by public funds. In order to obtain funding, the association or group of health professionals must attest to its coordinated practice and conclude a multi-year contract of objectives and means with the Regional Health Agency. The ARS supports them throughout the creation process. From the beginnings of the project, to its financing, including the constitution of the multi-professional team.
Aid for the creation of the Regional Health Agency (ARS)
The Regional Health Agency is a privileged contact for obtaining assistance for the creation of an MSP. For example, it can put project leaders in touch with a consulting firm. The latter analyzes the health project and carries out a feasibility study to verify that the conditions necessary for its implementation are met. If necessary, the ARS can take charge of renovation or construction work.
Additional assistance depending on the geographic location of the health center
Some territories may receive assistance from the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM). For example, this may be supplementary income for health professionals or to cover certain initial investments. The sectors concerned include:
- priority action zones (ZAC);
- priority intervention zones (ZIP);
- the vigilance zones (ZV).
OPTAM: principle, member doctor and reimbursement
What is the difference between a medical center and a health center?
Both considered as health centers, the medical center and the health center nevertheless have a notable difference in terms of organization. The medical center brings together health professionals who work shifts during staggered periods. Generally speaking, care is provided in the evening and at night, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. It mainly brings together general practitioners.
As for the health center, doctors and practitioners work on their own account, respecting standard hours for receiving patients. This type of infrastructure can accommodate general practitioners and specialized practitioners.
Please note : the main difference between a health center and a health center is the health professionals. In the first structure, they work as freelancers, in the second, they are employees.
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