RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of integrated community neurology on utilization, diagnostic testing, and access
JF Neurology: Clinical Practice
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 306
OP 315
DO 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000378
VO 7
IS 4
A1 Muhamad Y. Elrashidi
A1 Lindsey M. Philpot
A1 Nathan P. Young
A1 Priya Ramar
A1 Kristi M. Swanson
A1 Paul M. McKie
A1 Sarah J. Crane
A1 Jon O. Ebbert
YR 2017
UL http://cp.neurology.org/content/7/4/306.abstract
AB Background: The primary care medical home (PCMH) aims to promote delivery of high-value health care. However, growing demand for specialists due to increasingly older adults with complicated and chronic disease necessitates development of novel care models that efficiently incorporate specialty expertise while maintaining coordination and continuity with the PCMH. We describe the effect of a model of integrated community neurology (ICN) on health care utilization, diagnostic testing, and access.Methods: This is a retrospective, matched case-control comparison of patients referred to ICN for a face-to-face consultation over a 12-month period. The control group consisted of propensity score–matched patients referred to a non-colocated neurology practice during the study period. Administrative data were used to assess for diagnostic testing, visit utilization, and patient time to appointment.Results: From October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015, we identified 459 patients evaluated by ICN for a face-to-face visit and 459 matched controls evaluated by the non-colocated neurology practice. The majority of patients were Caucasian and female. ICN patients had lower odds of EMGs ordered (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46–0.89; p = 0.009), MRI brain (adjusted OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.45–0.79; p = 0.0004), or subsequent referral to outpatient neurology (adjusted OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.47–0.83; p = 0.001). ICN was not associated with an increase in emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or appointment wait time.Conclusions: The ICN model in a PCMH has the potential to reduce diagnostic testing and utilization.