Senior Medicare patients who see the same outpatient physician have a lower risk of hospitalization, according to a study by the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers examined the administrative data of more than 3 million Medicare patients between 2011 and 2013 and found that seniors who had a greater continuity of care were 3% to 4% less likely to require an "ED visit, observation stay, or admission." David Nyweide, a social-science researcher at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said: "Visits with the same physician… fosters long-term relationships for Medicare patients, which is ultimately good for their health."
Senior Medicare patients who see the same outpatient physician have a lower risk of hospitalization, according to a study by the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers examined the administrative data of more than 3 million Medicare patients between 2011 and 2013 and found that seniors who had a greater continuity of care were up to 20% less likely to require an "ED visit, observation stay, or admission." David Nyweide, a social-science researcher at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said: "Visits with the same physician… fosters long-term relationships for Medicare patients, which is ultimately good for their health."