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Re-utilization outcomes and costs of minor acute illness treated at family physician offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Campbell, MK; Silver, RW; Hoch, JS; Østbye, T; Stewart, M; Barnsley, J; Hutchison, B; Mathews, M; Tyrrell, C
Published in: Can Fam Physician
January 2005

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors associated with re-utilization of health services and to estimate and compare costs of treatment for minor acute illnesses in family physicians' offices (FPOs), walk-in clinics (WICs), and emergency departments (EDs). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study using questionnaires, telephone follow up, medical chart data, and costs according to Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) schedules. SETTING: 16 FPOs, 12 WICs, and 13 EDs in three Ontario cities. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients with one of eight predefined minor acute illnesses found in all three settings (upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, acute bronchitis, acute otitis media, serous otitis media, low back pain, gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infection). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: "Early" (< 3 days) versus "later" (3 days to 2 weeks) re-utilization of health services after initial encounter and direct cost to OHIP. RESULTS: The overall rate of re-utilization of health services for the same episode of illness was 11.3% for early and 20.6% for later re-utilization. Factors associated with early re-utilization were initial evaluation in ED setting (odds ratio [OR] = 6.5, confidence interval [CI] = 2.2-19.2) and, regardless of setting, less satisfaction with patient-centred care (OR = 1.7 for each one-point decrease on a four-point scale; CI = 1.1-2.7). Factors associated with later re-utilization were ED setting (OR = 4.9; CI = 2.4-9.9) and diagnosis of urinary tract infection (OR = 2.4; CI = 1.1-5.2). Factors tested and found not signifcantly associated with rate of re-utilization were patients' age, sex, responses to a variety of questions assessing psychosocial factors (stress, social support, independence), and opinions on health care. Cost of care was similar for FPOs and WICs and higher for EDs for all diagnoses. The initial visit was the largest component of cost in all settings, and this component (as well as total cost) was consistently higher in EDs. CONCLUSION: Both re-utilization rates and costs are higher for those seeking care in EDs for minor acute illness. Patient-centred care, an important feature of health care encounters regardless of setting, can reduce re-utilization rates.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Can Fam Physician

ISSN

0008-350X

Publication Date

January 2005

Volume

51

Issue

1

Start / End Page

82 / 83

Location

Canada

Related Subject Headings

  • Prospective Studies
  • Physicians, Family
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Ontario
  • Office Visits
  • Humans
  • Health Care Costs
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Campbell, M. K., Silver, R. W., Hoch, J. S., Østbye, T., Stewart, M., Barnsley, J., … Tyrrell, C. (2005). Re-utilization outcomes and costs of minor acute illness treated at family physician offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments. Can Fam Physician, 51(1), 82–83.
Campbell, M Karen, Rachel Wulf Silver, Jeffrey S. Hoch, Truls Østbye, Moira Stewart, Jan Barnsley, Brian Hutchison, Maria Mathews, and Christine Tyrrell. “Re-utilization outcomes and costs of minor acute illness treated at family physician offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments.Can Fam Physician 51, no. 1 (January 2005): 82–83.
Campbell MK, Silver RW, Hoch JS, Østbye T, Stewart M, Barnsley J, et al. Re-utilization outcomes and costs of minor acute illness treated at family physician offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments. Can Fam Physician. 2005 Jan;51(1):82–3.
Campbell, M. Karen, et al. “Re-utilization outcomes and costs of minor acute illness treated at family physician offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments.Can Fam Physician, vol. 51, no. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 82–83.
Campbell MK, Silver RW, Hoch JS, Østbye T, Stewart M, Barnsley J, Hutchison B, Mathews M, Tyrrell C. Re-utilization outcomes and costs of minor acute illness treated at family physician offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments. Can Fam Physician. 2005 Jan;51(1):82–83.

Published In

Can Fam Physician

ISSN

0008-350X

Publication Date

January 2005

Volume

51

Issue

1

Start / End Page

82 / 83

Location

Canada

Related Subject Headings

  • Prospective Studies
  • Physicians, Family
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Ontario
  • Office Visits
  • Humans
  • Health Care Costs
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Emergency Service, Hospital