Table 1 Key elements of Kaiser Permanente, Northern California (KPNC) and the Danish healthcare system (DHS)

Coverage

Coverage according to employer enlisted or individual health plans, through Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, ranging from low coverage health plans with relatively high co-payments to plans providing extensive coverage with minimal co-payments.

Tax-based universal coverage for all residents.

Uninsured individuals constitute 5% of total hospital admissions. 3.5% of Kaiser members are from California's Medicaid programme Medi-Cal. Medicare members can choose to obtain healthcare from Kaiser.

Providers

The Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and the Permanente Medical Groups provide all clinical services.

Reliance on regional and local government for financing and delivery of healthcare services.

The Medical Centre has a range of outpatient facilities available incl. paediatricians, internal medicine physicians, geriatricians, nurses, health educators, in-house access to advanced medical equipment, a pharmacy and an emergency department.

GPs are gatekeepers who work in private practices and are remunerated by the regions through a mix of capitation payment and fee-for-service.

Post-hospital care is administered outside the hospitals at independent Skilled Nursing Facilities contracting with KP.

98 Municipalities are responsible for prevention and rehabilitation, home healthcare and care for the elderly.

Physicians are paid a salary, including 5%-10% in financial incentives

Five Regions are responsible for secondary care delivered by practising specialist in private practice working under fee-for service and hospitals with physicians working for a fixed salary.

Health Information Technology (HIT)

The operational KP Health Connect allows for extensive information exchange across providers and settings. KP Health Connect allows for multiple patient panel management and two way patient contacts.

Widespread use of HIT but limited possibilities of information exchange across settings. To an increasing extent, GPs are using HIT for two way patient contacts. There is no common national record system.