Work

Patient Transition From a Free Clinic to a Medical Home

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: ECHO is a student-run free clinic in the Bronx, NY. To address issues in continuity, ECHO transitioned in 2009 from indefinite care to providing patients with only two visits before transferring them to a traditional primary care facility. Diabetic patients who visited ECHO between 7/1/2009 and 6/30/2011 (n=25) were compared to a control group seen between 1/1/2007 and 12/31/2008 (n=25). We studied the transition’s effect on the establishment of a stable medical home by measuring percent of patients making follow-up visits according to guidelines. Patients who successfully transferred to a stable medical home were significantly older (56 vs. 46, p=0.0068). The transition policy made no significant difference on successful transfers (p=0.3705), but there was a trend toward increased delay of subsequent visits (p=0.0810). Further evaluation with a larger sample will help to clarify whether the new policy is detrimental to the establishment of a stable medical home, and why.

Source: American Journal of Medical Quality

DOI: 10.1177/1062860613494167

Authors: Anthony Bowen, Sophia L. Ryan, Julie Sogani, Amarilys Cortijo, Sarah C. Nosal, Pablo Joo

Institutions: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Institute for Family Health

Language: English

Topic: Primary Care and Health Outcomes

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences