Multispecialty Physician Network Coordination and Post-Discharge Care of Chronic Disease Patients

• Activity Number: 500
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Biopharmaceutical Section
• Author(s): Therese Anne Stukel*+
• Companies: ICES
• Keywords: ACO ; multispecialty physician network ; chronic disease

Abstract

We aim to understand whether higher primary care (PC) intensity, measured as comprehensive PC FTEs per capita, is associated with better patient outcomes and higher quality of care for chronic disease patients. Using patient flow methods and health administrative data, we created 78 virtual multispecialty physician networks in Ontario, Canada, that mimic Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and reflect how primary care physicians, specialists and hospitals actually practice together. We perform a longitudinal cohort study of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and hip fracture patients discharged alive from a hospital. We hypothesize that networks with higher PC intensity, particularly higher PC Family Health Team intensity, will have lower rates of readmission and mortality, and higher rates of evidence-based drug prescriptions and collaborative care among primary care physicians and specialists.