groepspraktijk

A groepspraktijk is a type of primary care practice in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions in which several general practitioners (huisartsen) and accompanying staff operate from a single practice location. The practice is typically organized as a professional partnership (maatschap) or similar legal form, allowing shared premises, equipment, and administrative services, while each GP retains professional independence in clinical matters.

In a groepspraktijk, care is coordinated through shared routines, such as a common electronic health record, standardized referral pathways, and a joint appointment system. Patients can book with any of the GPs, and the practice may offer extended hours, triage, on-call coverage, and co-located services such as practice nurses, dietitians, or mental health professionals. The model emphasizes continuity of care and team-based decision making, with regular meetings to discuss complex cases and quality-improvement activities.

Advantages include easier access to care, more flexible scheduling, shared costs and resources, and opportunities for peer learning and supervision. It can enhance service integration and preventive care, while spreading workload among several practitioners.

Challenges involve governance, profit distribution, recruitment and retention of physicians, and maintaining consistent patient experience across practitioners. Privacy, data sharing, and compliance with health-system regulations require clear policies. Differences in legal forms and funding models exist regionally, with several practices aligning under associations such as huisartsverenigingen and quality guidelines.