Ren Hailian, Song Chun, Lu Xiaodong, Liu Juan, Liu Fangfang, Mu Hongpeng, Wang Qian, Mi Wenhua, Li Yuan, Zhang Haijun, Li Youchun, Yang Yanrong, Wang Zhenyun
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of compact urban medical group construction on improving primary healthcare service capacity and to provide empirical reference for medical group reform in similar regions. Methods Taking the compact urban medical group in Xifeng South District of Qingyang City as the research subject, the monthly outpatient visits, medical resource allocation and patient characteristics data of 8 member institutions and 2 non-member control institutions from January 2019 to July 2025 were collected. Taking September 2023, when the medical group was established, as the time point, the data were divided into the pre-establishment period (January 2019 to August 2023) and the post-establishment period (September 2023 to July 2025), and pre-post comparison and institutional control methods were adopted for descriptive statistical analysis. Results After the establishment of the medical group, the monthly average outpatient visits of 4 community health centers increased from 894.6 to 1 192.8 person- times, with a growth rate of 33.3 %, while those of the 2 control hospitals decreased by 15.6 % over the same period. The number of community physicians increased from 12 to 25, and registered nurses from 70 to 112. The family doctor signing coverage rate rose from 50.2 % to 81.7 %, the medical insurance reimbursement ratio from 48.0 % to 85.0 %, and the return visit rate from 40.0 % to 84.0 %. The numbers of patients under standardized management of hypertension and diabetes has increased significantly, respectively. Conclusion The compact urban medical group obviously improved the primary healthcare service capacity and the accessibility of medical services for residents through resource deployment to primary care, digital support, and integrated management. Its construction experience could provide a reference for medical group reform in similar regions of central and western China.