Back to Search
Start Over
Continuity of care and referral rate
- Source :
- Family practice, 36(2), 162-165. Oxford University Press
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Background Continuity of care could reduce health care consumption by patients and reduce the number of referrals to specialist care, but it is unknown if there is a difference in referral rates to specific medical specialties. Aim We aimed to determine the relationship between continuity of care and both the referral rate (referrals per patient per year) and the medical specialties for which this relationship was strongest. Design and setting A retrospective cohort study of 19333 patients in primary care in the north of the Netherlands. Method Patients with at least two contacts with a general practitioner (GP) over a 2-year period (2013-2014) were included. The number of contacts with their own or other GPs were calculated, and referral rates were determined. Continuity of care was included as a dichotomous variable (absent or present). Results The odds of being referred were higher for older patients, females and patients with more practitioner contacts. However, the presence of continuity of care was associated with the highest odds of referral. The referral rate was significantly highest for patients with continuity of care when referred to paediatrics, as well as for patients without continuity of care who were referred to gastroenterology, ophthalmology and psychiatry. Conclusion Increased continuity of care decreases referral to specialist care, most notably for referrals to paediatrics. Despite continued pressures on continuity of care, policy makers should invest in this cornerstone of primary care to temper health care expenditures.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Referral
practice management
Primary care
Odds
03 medical and health sciences
primary care
0302 clinical medicine
Patient satisfaction
Sex Factors
Health care
consultation
Medicine
Humans
doctorpatient relationship
030212 general & internal medicine
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Referral and Consultation
Netherlands
Retrospective Studies
PATIENT SATISFACTION
Primary Health Care
business.industry
030503 health policy & services
Age Factors
Retrospective cohort study
Continuity of Patient Care
INTERPERSONAL CONTINUITY
Family medicine
Continuity of care
Doctor–patient relationship
Female
0305 other medical science
business
Family Practice
Specialization
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14602229 and 02632136
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Family practice
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5131651167560eacf228df7ff52c8984