Moving a private community family practice to a hospital-based teaching unit: patients' response.

Patients' response to the relocation of an established practice from the community to a hospital-based teaching unit was measured at the end of one year. Questionnaires were sent to a randomly selected group of adult patients, asking about their impressions of the new clinic or their reasons for switching practices. The major reason cited for changing practices was the change of geographic location, rather than the change from community to teaching practice. Although most patients had been seen by residents, ratings were unrelated to the number of residents or staff administering care.