Primary Care Visit Cadence and Hospital Admissions in High-Risk Patients

The article from AJMC investigates the association between frequent primary care visits and reduced hospitalizations among high-risk patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It concludes that patients who maintained a high cadence of primary care visits had significantly lower rates of hospitalization compared to those with fewer visits. 

Contributions to the VBC Field:

• Regular primary care visits are integral to value-based primary care, aligning with the shift towards rewarding healthcare providers for the quality rather than the quantity of care.

• The study underscores the potential of high-cadence primary care visits in reducing hospitalizations among high-risk patients, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

• Emphasizes that frequent, regular primary care can serve as a proactive healthcare management tool, especially within capitation reimbursement models, to address complex patient needs and prevent hospitalizations.

Areas for Future Research Improvement:

• Future studies should explore the specific mechanisms by which visit cadence influences patient outcomes, including the effectiveness of visit cadence programs across different healthcare models and patient populations.

• Investigate patient engagement in visit cadence programs, the impact of visit cadence on various patient outcomes under different payer arrangements, and the long-term effects of quality improvement programs.

• Assess the potential of personalized visit frequency recommendations, leveraging advanced computational models to tailor to individual patient risk profiles and preferences.

Reference:

Matsil A, Shenfeld D, Fields C, Yao A, Clair J. Primary care visit cadence and hospital admissions in high-risk patients. Am J Manag Care. Published online February 27, 2024. doi:10.37765/ajmc.2024.89509