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. 1998 Oct;88(10):1539–1541. doi: 10.2105/ajph.88.10.1539

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

A G Mainous 3rd 1, J M Gill 1
PMCID: PMC1508474  PMID: 9772859

Abstract

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.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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