[Treatment of accidents occurring in a municipality in general practice and emergency clinics].

In one Danish municipality inhabited by 9433 persons, 9119 were registered in the health security system as group 1-secured (i.e. full public health coverage). Fifteen general practitioners in seven practices participated in a one year-project by registering accidents where the general practitioner was the primary treatment contact. These general practitioners were allocated 84.5% of the group 1-secured persons in the municipality. The general practitioners were the primary contact persons in 466 accidents. The one year contact incidence rate was 61 per 1000 secured persons. During the same period the total number of inhabitants of the municipality made 1006 contacts to the local emergency rooms as a direct consequence of accidents. The one year rate of contact incidence for emergency rooms was 107 per 1000 inhabitants. The total rate of contact incidences to medical practitioners in the local health system is calculated to be 166 per 1000 inhabitants. The general practitioners saw more children and more accidents that had taken place in schools and day care-centres. Injuries caused by acute muscular overtraining led more frequently to contact with general practice. Fewer fractures and open wounds due to accidents were registered in general practice than in the emergency room. During the daytime working hours, the general practitioner was contacted more frequently than the emergency room.