Taskification in general practice: A solution to, or an aggravator of, the workforce crisis?

Abstract

As a solution to the current international workforce crisis in general practice, many countries are introducing initiatives of task-shifting. These initiatives involve a tendency to ‘taskification’, which means that complex work is dissected into smaller tasks that are delegated between different healthcare professionals. Drawing on existing academic literature and international policy developments, this essay aims to problematise the idea of taskification as a solution to the workforce crisis in general practice. The concept of taskification is introduced and elaborated by tracing its roots to the theories of Taylorism and New Public Management. Like these organizational paradigms, the concept of taskification reflects a prioritization of efficiency, standardization, and managerial control, which may fragment healthcare delivery and undermine the holistic and discretionary nature that traditionally characterizes general practice. Furthermore, taskification is discussed in relation to challenges in general practice and international policy developments, which illustrate that taskification, while aimed at reducing workloads, often adds new pressures through supervision, “rescue” work, and the complexity of care, ultimately risking burnout and reduced efficiency. We conclude that while taskification offers potential solutions to workforce challenges in general practice, it risks unintended consequences such as care fragmentation, increased workload pressures, and compromised patient safety. A nuanced approach with adequate training, supervision, and protection of GP time is suggested to ensure these strategies benefit healthcare systems, practitioners, and patients.