RE: continuity

[Guest guest]

Continuity is cool. There are quite a number of studies supporting the population health benefits of continuity of care. Below is a partial lit search. There are many more very good articles linking continuity to satisfaction and important clinical outcomes like hospitalization and emergency room use.GordonGill JM, Mainous AG. The

role of provider continuity in preventing hospitalizations. Arch Fam Med.

7(4):352-7, 1998 Jul-Aug. Cardarelli R, JE. Having a Personal Health Care Provider

and Receipt of Colorectal Cancer Testing Ann Fam Med 2009;7:5-10. DOI:

10.1370/afm.904. Saultz JW.

Defining and Measuring

Interpersonal Continuity of Care Ann

Fam Med 2003;1:134-143. DOI: 10:1370/afm.23 Saultz JW, Albedaiwi W. Interpersonal

Continuity of Care and Satisfaction: A Critical Review Ann. Fam. Med, Sep 2004; 2: 445 - 451. Saultz JW, Lochner J. Interpersonal

Continuity of Care and Care Outcomes:

A Critical Review Ann Fam Med 2005;3:159-166. DOI: 10.1370/afm.285 Wasson JH, Sauvigne AE, Mogielnicki RP, Frey WG, Sox CH, Gaudette C,

Rockwell A. Continuity of outpatient medical care in

elderly men. A randomized trial JAMA. 1984; 252:2413-2417.

I propose that we shoudl make continuity so cool that people will pay extra for it.. I understand why it is counter productive to go to the hospital with the current reimburesment. I want the conversation changed so that continuity is so cool that people/ insurance companies will pay for it...

The only way is to show that paying extra for coninuity , would create cost savings in the entire systemConitnuity should be so cool , that insurance companies would WANT you not to change pcps when you change insurance plans...

That can only happen when insurance companies hold the bag for lifetime costs...I know I am going off on all kinds of tangents.. herehopefully somebody else can put it all together better