Patients who keep up with primary care avoid hospital stays

For older individuals, a visit to the physician can reduce the possibility for a hospital stay down the road. A study, published in The BMJ, analyzes the correlation between continuity of care with primary care physicians and related hospital admissions for older patients.

The study hopes to prove that those in contact with their primary care physician and those who keep up with their care can prevent hospital admission in their elderly years. By staying on track of their own health, patients receive the care they need for everyday health and prevent any surprise trips to the hospital.

Analyzing both primary and secondary care records for 200 clinicians in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in England, the study included 230,473 patients ages 62 to 82 who have visited their doctors at least twice in two years. Using the provider care index, researchers uncovered the correlation between continuation of primary care and hospital admissions.

Results included:

• Continuity of care was lowest in organizations with many physicians.
• Higher rates of continuity of care correlated with fewer hospital admissions.
• By increasing continuity of care, hospital admissions fell by 6.22 percent.

“Our findings suggest there is opportunity to improve care and reduce hospital admissions among the highest users of healthcare, but there are various explanations of our findings that must first be carefully considered,” concluded Isaac Barker, first author on the study, and colleagues. “One possibility is that when patients receive more continuous care, their doctors might be better able to understand their health needs within time constrained appointments and thus provide care that is more appropriate to the needs of the patient.

"Continuity of care might also promote a more effective and trusting relationship between patients and doctors, leading to a better understanding of health problems and greater adherence to the agreed course of treatment. One would expect these benefits to be felt most keenly in those patients who need to visit the general practitioner frequently. However, it is important to note that identifying a causal mechanism is beyond the scope of this study.”