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. 2000 Jan;90(1):97–102. doi: 10.2105/ajph.90.1.97

The effect of the doctor-patient relationship on emergency department use among the elderly.

R A Rosenblatt 1, G E Wright 1, L M Baldwin 1, L Chan 1, P Clitherow 1, F M Chen 1, L G Hart 1
PMCID: PMC1446125  PMID: 10630144

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the rate of emergency department use among the elderly and examined whether that use is reduced if the patient has a principal-care physician. METHODS: The Health Care Financing Administration's National Claims History File was used to study emergency department use by Medicare patients older than 65 years in Washington State during 1994. RESULTS: A total of 18.1% of patients had 1 or more emergency department visits during the study year; the rate increased with age and illness severity. Patients with principal-care physicians were much less likely to use the emergency department for every category of disease severity. After case mix, Medicaid eligibility, and rural/urban residence were controlled for, the odds ratio for having any emergency department visit was 0.47 for patients with a generalist principal-care physician and 0.58 for patients with a specialist principal-care physician. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of emergency department use among the elderly is substantial, and most visits are for serious medical problems. The presence of a continuous relationship with a physician--regardless of specialty--may reduce emergency department use.

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Selected References

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