Abstract

Background: The Chilean public health system is based on Primary Health Care (PHC), whose assessment is challenging due to the heterogeneity of services and multi-dimensionality of expected results. The Primary Care Assessment Tool was adapted and validated for Chile. Aim: To analyze, from the provider's perspective, the structure and functioning of the health centers, to determine the achievement of PHC 's core functions: access, continuity, coordination, comprehensiveness of care, cultural competence, family centeredness and community orientation. Material and Methods: All professionals working in primary care in a commune of Metropolitan Santiago were invited to answer an online version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool. Results: One hundred and nine professionals (51% of those invited) from four Family Health Centers, two Community Health Centers, and a Community Mental Health Center, answered the online questionnaire. Their distribution by profession and health units does not resemble the whole research population, which should be considered when interpreting the results. Data show a good performance of the system: general and domain specific scores are all near three for a maximum score of four. Family centeredness obtained the highest score, whereas cultural competence had the lowest. Conclusions: Reinforcing intercultural skills and a wider approach to psycho-social problems is recommended to strengthen the new healthcare model implementation.