Primary Care-Based Case Conferences and Reductions in Health Care Utilization. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Case conferences are collaborative, interdisciplinary team meetings that facilitate consensus on individual patients' health management plans, coordinate services, and initiate referrals. This approach is well-suited to address the social needs and risks of complex patients. Evidence of this approach in primary care settings to change patient outcomes is limited. A panel of 976 patients from an urban, federally qualified health center were included in case conferences. Fixed-effects regression models estimated the effect of case conferences on admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and missed outpatient appointments. Case conferencing was associated with a 6% reduction in the probability that the patient would have an ED visit in a given month and a 5% lower probability of an inpatient admission. The probability of missed primary care appointments increased. Case conferences are a potential strategy to address the multiple issues facing complex patients.

publication date

  • January 1, 2021

Research

keywords

  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Primary Health Care

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85114424564

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1353/hpu.2021.0132

PubMed ID

  • 34421031

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 32

issue

  • 3