When is caring sharing? Primary care provider interdependence and continuity of care.

Efforts to improve access to high-quality, efficient primary care have highlighted the need for team-based care. Most primary care teams are designed to maintain continuity of care between patients and primary care providers (PCPs), because continuity of care can improve some patient outcomes. However, PCPs are interdependent because they care for, or share, patients. PCP interdependence, and its association with continuity of care, is not well described. This study describes a measure of PCP interdependence. We also evaluate the association between patient and panel characteristics, including PCP interdependence. Our results found that the extent of interdependence between PCPs in the same clinic varies widely. A range of patient and panel characteristics affect continuity of care, including patient complexity and PCP interdependence. These results suggest that continuity of care for complex patients is sensitive to panel characteristics, including PCP interdependence and panel size. This information can be used by primary care organizations for evidence-based team design.

Duke Scholars

Author Christine M Everett Population Health Sciences

Author Sharron Lee Docherty School of Nursing

Author George Lee Jackson Population Health Sciences

Author Perri Anne Morgan Family Medicine and Community Health, Physician Assistant Pr ...

Author Anthony Joseph Viera Family Medicine and Community Health

Author Valerie A. Smith Population Health Sciences

Author John B. Anderson Jr. Family Medicine and Community Health, Family Medicine