Continuity of Care Associated with Improved Health Care Outcomes

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 30 Mar 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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While the discipline of family medicine has always been predicated on a core assumption that interpersonal continuity of care - the ongoing relationship between an individual doctor and patient - is important, individual studies measuring its impact on health care outcomes and cost have yielded conflicting results.

In a critical review that synthesizes the findings of 41 research studies, researchers found a significant association between interpersonal continuity and improved preventive care and lower rates of hospitalization.

Although even fewer studies addressing the association between continuity and cost exist, a review of 20 studies found an association between interpersonal continuity and lower cost variables.

Interpersonal Continuity of Care and Care Outcomes: A Critical Review
By John W. Saultz, M.D., et al

March/April 2005 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

Annals of Family Medicine is a peer-reviewed research journal that provides a cross-disciplinary forum for new, evidence-based information affecting the primary care discipline. Launched in May 2003, the journal is sponsored by six family medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Practice, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, the Association of Family Practice Residency Directors and the North American Primary Care Research Group. Annals is published six times each year and contains original research from the clinical, biomedical, social and health services areas, as well as contributions on methodology and theory, selected reviews, essays and editorials. A board of directors with representatives from each of the sponsoring organizations oversees Annals. Complete editorial content and interactive discussion groups for each published article can be accessed free of charge on the journal's Web site, http://www.annfammed.org.

Contact: Angela Lower
alower@aafp.org
913-906-6253
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.annfammed.org.