papers

The importance of continuity of care in the likelihood of future hospitalization: is site of care equivalent to a primary clinician?

Am J Public Health 88:1539-1541.

Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of continuity with clinicians and health care sites on likelihood of future hospitalization.

METHODS: Delaware Medicaid patient data were analyzed. Logistic regression models supplied adjusted effects of continuity on hospitalization.

RESULTS: Patients in the high clinician continuity group had lower odds of hospitalization than patients in the high site/low clinician continuity group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66, 0.87). The latter group did not differ from the low site/low clinician continuity group (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.80, 1.08).

CONCLUSIONS: A location providing health care without clinician continuity may not be sufficient to ensure cost-effective care.

PMID: 9772859
PMCID: PMC1508474