The future of general practitioners in the management of divisions of general practice

BACKGROUND: The role of divisions of general practice has changed significantly since its inception. Divisions have evolved from simply assisting general practitioners in their practices and providing complementary support to existing health services through project work, to becoming major instruments of organisational change. OBJECTIVE: This article looks at the short history of divisions of general practice and explores options for the future that may help build a better interface between practical medicine and the growing bureaucratic, organisational and managerial demands being placed upon divisions. DISCUSSION: In the process of the change in the role of divisions we have experienced a paradigm clash between the essential work of GPs as effective medical practitioners, and their role in divisions as managers and leaders of the wider health care system change. (author abstract)