The association of quality of primary care and the potentially avoidable emergency department (ED) visit
Journal
Taiwan Journal of Public Health
Journal Volume
36
Journal Issue
5
Pages
473
Date Issued
2017-10-01
Author(s)
Chang, Ting
Abstract
Objectives: This research aims to describe the characteristics and healthcare utilization of patients with avoidable emergency department (ED) visits and to explore the relationship between avoidable ED visits and the quality of primary care. Methods: Patients who had avoidable ED visit between 2010 and 2013 was selected as the case-group in this study and were matched to patients who had outpatient visits but without any avoidable ED visit in the same year. The continuity of care index (COCI) was used to measure the quality of primary care. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to explore whether avoidable ED visits are associated with patients' characteristics, the continuity of care, and the type of providers as their usual source of primary care. Results: The study found that patient who was male or with lower income class were associated with higher probability of having avoidable ED visits. The result of multivariate analysis further revealed that the odds of avoidable ED visits were higher for patients with lower continuity of care (OR = 1.924 to 3.22), and for whom received primary care from regional hospitals (OR = 3.543) and medical centers (OR = 2.916). Conclusions: Higher continuity of care was found to significantly lower the risk of avoidable ED visits. Health policy stakeholders are therefore encouraged to improve continuity of care. We also suggest that avoidable ED visits should be used to monitor the quality of primary care routinely.
Subjects
Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (acsc) | Avoidable emergency department visit | Continuity of care index (coci) | Primary care
Publisher
Taiwan Public Health Association
Type
journal article