The Impact of Primary Care Follow-up after an Acute Exacerbation of Asthma on Subsequent Emergency Department Utilization and Hospitalization

Introduction. A new model, an emergency care access point (ECAP) for after-hours emergency care, is emerging in The Netherlands. This study assessed the effect on emergency department (ED) utilization and patient flows.Methods. Routinely recorded clinical ED patient data, covering a six-year period, was collected. Segmented regression analysis was used to analyze after-hours changes over time.Results. 59.182 patients attended the ED before the start of the ECAP and 51.513 patients after, a decrease of 13%. Self-referred ED patients decreased 99.5% (OR 0.003; 95% CI 0.002–0.004). Referred patients increased by 213.4% and ED hospital admissions increased by 20.2%. A planned outpatient follow-up increased by 5.8% (OR 1.968 95% CI 1.870–2.071). The latter changed from fewer contacts to more contacts (OR 1.015 95% CI 1.013–1.017). Consultations at the regional genereral practitioner cooperative (GPC) increased by 26.0% (183.782 versus 232.246).Conclusion. ECAP implementation resulted in a decrease in ED utilization, a near absence of self-referring patients, and a higher probability of hospital admission and clinical follow-up. This suggests either an increase of ED patients with a higher acuity or a lower threshold of admitting referred patients compared to self-referred patients. Overall, increased collaboration with after-hours primary care and emergency care seemed to optimize ED utilization.

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Primary Care Comprehensiveness and Care Coordination in Robust Specialist Networks Results in Lower Emergency Department Utilization: A Network Analysis of Medicaid Physician Networks

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/2150132720924432 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 215013272092443

Author(s):

Zhaowei She ◽

Anne H. Gaglioti ◽

Peter Baltrus ◽

Chaohua Li ◽

Miranda A. Moore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Care Coordination ◽

Emergency Department Utilization ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Ed Visits ◽

Physician Networks ◽

High Degree ◽

The Impact

Background: Care coordination is an essential and difficult to measure function of primary care. Objective: Our objective was to assess the impact of network characteristics in primary/specialty physician networks on emergency department (ED) visits for patients with chronic ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs). Subjects and Measures: This cross-sectional social network analysis of primary care and specialty physicians caring for adult Medicaid beneficiaries with ACSCs was conducted using 2009 Texas Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) files. Network characteristic measures were the main exposure variables. A negative binomial regression model analyzed the impact of network characteristics on the ED visits per patient in the panel. Results: There were 42 493 ACSC patients assigned to 5687 primary care physicians (PCPs) connected to 11 660 specialist physicians. PCPs whose continuity patients did not visit a specialist had 86% fewer ED visits per patient in their panel, compared with PCPs whose patients saw specialists. Among PCPs connected to specialists in the network, those with a higher number of specialist collaborators and those with a high degree of centrality had lower patient panel ED rates. Conclusions: PCPs providing comprehensive care (ie, without specialist consultation) for their patients with chronic ACSCs had lower ED utilization rates than those coordinating care with specialists. PCPs with robust specialty networks and a high degree of centrality in the network also had lower ED utilization. The right fit between comprehensiveness of primary care, care coordination, and adequate capacity of specialty availability in physician networks is needed to drive outcomes.

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An evaluation of the implementation of quality improvement (QI) in primary care dentistry: a multi-method approach

BMJ Open Quality ◽

10.1136/bmjoq-2019-000839 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. e000839

Author(s):

Heather Cassie ◽

Vinay Mistry ◽

Laura Beaton ◽

Irene Black ◽

Janet E Clarkson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Quality Improvement ◽

Case Studies ◽

Quality Care ◽

Theoretical Domains Framework ◽

Team Members ◽

Knowledge And Skills ◽

Scottish Government ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesEnsuring that healthcare is patient-centred, safe and harm free is the cornerstone of the NHS. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is a national initiative to support the provision of safe, high-quality care. SPSP promotes a coordinated approach to quality improvement (QI) in primary care by providing evidence-based methods, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. These methods are relatively untested within dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact to inform the development and implementation of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in primary care dentistry.DesignA multimethod study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Kirkpatrick model. Quantitative data were collected using baseline and follow-up questionnaires, designed to explore beliefs and behaviours towards improving quality in practice. Qualitative data were gathered using interviews with dental team members and practice-based case studies.ResultsOne hundred and eleven dental team members completed the baseline questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 79 team members. Twelve practices, including two case studies, participated in evaluation interviews. Findings identified positive beliefs and increased knowledge and skills towards QI, as well as increased confidence about using QI methodologies in practice. Barriers included time, poor patient and team engagement, communication and leadership. Facilitators included team working, clear roles, strong leadership, training, peer support and visible benefits. Participants’ knowledge and skills were identified as an area for improvement.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate increased knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to QI methodology and highlight areas for improvement. This is an example of partnership working between the Scottish Government and NHSScotland towards a shared ambition to provide safe care to every patient. More work is required to evaluate the sustainability and transferability of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in dentistry and wider primary care.

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Assessment of a multi-center tele-urgent care program to decrease emergency department referral rates in the Veterans Health Administration

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x211024843 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1357633X2110248

Author(s):

Charlie M Wray ◽

Myla Junge ◽

Salomeh Keyhani ◽

Janeen E Smith

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Emergency Department Visit ◽

Care Program ◽

Urgent Care ◽

Emergency Department Utilization ◽

Emergency Department Care ◽

Referral Rates ◽

Care Assessment ◽

The Impact ◽

Care Evaluation

The use of emergency departments for non-emergent issues has led to overcrowding and decreased the quality of care. Telemedicine may be a mechanism to decrease overutilization of this expensive resource. From April to September 2020, we assessed (a) the impact of a multi-center tele-urgent care program on emergency department referral rates and (b) the proportion of individuals who had a subsequent emergency department visit within 72 h of tele-urgent care evaluation when they were not referred to the emergency department. We then performed a chart review to assess whether patients presented to the emergency department for the same reason as was stated for their tele-urgent care evaluation, whether subsequent hospitalization was needed during that emergency department visit, and whether death occurred. Among the 2510 patients who would have been referred to in-person emergency department care, but instead received tele-urgent care assessment, one in five (21%; n = 533) were subsequently referred to the emergency department. Among those not referred following tele-urgent care, 1 in 10 (11%; n = 162) visited the emergency department within 72 h. Among these 162 individuals, most (91%) returned with the same or similar complaint as what was assessed during their tele-urgent care visit, with one in five requiring hospitalization (19%, n = 31) with one individual (0.01%) dying. In conclusion, tele-urgent care may safely decrease emergency department utilization.

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Effect of Professional CGM (pCGM) on Glucose Management in Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Primary Care

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology ◽

10.1177/1932296821998724 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193229682199872

Author(s):

Gregg D. Simonson ◽

Richard M. Bergenstal ◽

Mary L. Johnson ◽

Janet L. Davidson ◽

Thomas W. Martens

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Primary Care ◽

Glucose Monitoring ◽

Care Model ◽

Time In Range ◽

Glucose Management ◽

The Impact ◽

Primary Care Management

Background: Little data exists regarding the impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in the primary care management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We initiated a quality improvement (QI) project in a large healthcare system to determine the effect of professional CGM (pCGM) on glucose management. We evaluated both an MD and RN/Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Care Model. Methods: Participants with T2D for >1 yr., A1C ≥7.0% to <11.0%, managed with any T2D regimen and willing to use pCGM were included. Baseline A1C was collected and participants wore a pCGM (Libre Pro) for up to 2 weeks, followed by a visit with an MD or RN/CDCES to review CGM data including Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) Report. Shared-decision making was used to modify lifestyle and medications. Clinic follow-up in 3 to 6 months included an A1C and, in a subset, a repeat pCGM. Results: Sixty-eight participants average age 61.6 years, average duration of T2D 15 years, mean A1C 8.8%, were identified. Pre to post pCGM lowered A1C from 8.8% ± 1.2% to 8.2% ± 1.3% (n=68, P=0.006). The time in range (TIR) and time in hyperglycemia improved along with more hypoglycemia in the subset of 37 participants who wore a second pCGM. Glycemic improvement was due to lifestyle counseling (68% of participants) and intensification of therapy (65% of participants), rather than addition of medications. Conclusions: Using pCGM in primary care, with an MD or RN/CDCES Care Model, is effective at lowering A1C, increasing TIR and reducing time in hyperglycemia without necessarily requiring additional medications.

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Associations between left bundle branch block with different PR intervals, QRS durations, heart rates and the risk of heart failure: a register-based cohort study using ECG data from the primary care setting

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2020-001425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e001425

Author(s):

Marc Meller Søndergaard ◽

Johannes Riis ◽

Karoline Willum Bodker ◽

Steen Møller Hansen ◽

Jesper Nielsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Primary Care ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Left Bundle Branch Block ◽

Bundle Branch Block ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Pr Interval ◽

Qrs Duration ◽

The Impact

AimLeft bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with an increased risk of heart failure (HF). We assessed the impact of common ECG parameters on this association using large-scale data.Methods and resultsUsing ECGs recorded in a large primary care population from 2001 to 2011, we identified HF-naive patients with a first-time LBBB ECG. We obtained information on sex, age, emigration, medication, diseases and death from Danish registries. We investigated the association between the PR interval, QRS duration, and heart rate and the risk of HF over a 2-year follow-up period using Cox regression analysis.Of 2471 included patients with LBBB, 464 (18.8%) developed HF during follow-up. A significant interaction was found between QRS duration and heart rate (p<0.01), and the analyses were stratified on these parameters. Using a QRS duration <150 ms and a heart rate <70 beats per minute (bpm) as the reference, all groups were statistically significantly associated with the development of HF. Patients with a QRS duration ≥150 ms and heart rate ≥70 bpm had the highest risk of developing HF (HR 3.17 (95% CI 2.41 to 4.18, p<0.001). There was no association between the PR interval and HF after adjustment.ConclusionProlonged QRS duration and higher heart rate were associated with increased risk of HF among primary care patients with LBBB, while no association was observed with PR interval. Patients with LBBB with both a prolonged QRS duration (≥150 ms) and higher heart rate (≥70 bpm) have the highest risk of developing HF.

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