Patients who see the same doctor again and again have lower death rates, a study suggests.

The benefits applied to visits to GPs and specialists and were seen across different cultures and health systems.

University of Exeter researchers said the human aspect of medical practice was "potentially life-saving" but had been neglected.

GPs' leaders said they recognised the value of patients seeing "their own" doctor.

Because of intense workforce pressures, however, this could mean waiting even longer for an appointment, the Royal College of GPs said.

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Continuity of care is known to be particularly beneficial for patients with chronic conditions, long-term mental health issues and complex needs.

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The study, published in BMJ Open, analysed the results of 22 studies in nine countries, including England, France, US, Canada and South Korea.

Eighteen of the studies indicated that contact with the same doctor over an average of two years meant fewer deaths over the periods studied, compared with other patients.

The researchers said continuity of care was important and should be given a higher priority in healthcare planning.

'Better communication'
Prof Philip Evans, from the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Continuity of care happens when a patient and a doctor see each other repeatedly and get to know each other.

"This leads to better communication, patient satisfaction, adherence to medical advice and much lower use of hospital services."

Sir Denis Pereira Gray, from St Leonard's GP practice in Exeter, who also worked on the study, said: "Patients have long known that it matters which doctor they see and how well they can communicate with them.

"Until now, arranging for patients to see the doctor of their choice has been considered a matter of convenience or courtesy.

"Now, it is clear it is about the quality of medical practice and is literally 'a matter of life and death'."

Team effort
Prof Kamila Hawthorne, vice-chair of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said many practices were trying out different approaches such as patients being assigned a team of healthcare professionals, including a GP, who had access to their records and could build relationships with them.

She said: "Balancing continuity of care with timely access to GP services is a huge challenge for general practice. And ultimately the answer is more GPs and more resources for the profession."

NHS England has pledged £2.4bn extra a year for general practice and 5,000 more GPs by 2020.

The RCGP said these must be delivered to safeguard the future of general practice and patient care.

Link:https://www.bbc.com/news/health-44643607



Although the article refers to the UK, the same principles apply in the U.S.

There is also evidence that seeing specialist--at least cardiologists--lowers mortality compared with seeing primary care physicians, at least for certain problems.

Likely true. But when your Primary Care quits and moves on every year or two I guess you’re out of luck.

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Patients who see the same doctor again and again have lower death rates, a study suggests.

I submit that this is a flawed "study."

The death rate is 100%. It does not vary.

Not sure why this study would be surprising or groundbreaking?

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Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Patients who see the same doctor again and again have lower death rates, a study suggests.

I submit that this is a flawed "study."

The death rate is 100%. It does not vary.

No, No, the 100% is from drinking water.

quote:

Not sure why this study would be surprising or groundbreaking?

It points out the problems in health care that have come with managed care and physicians as employees. Years ago, most people saw the same doctor for many years. Continuity of care in our country is poor. In the recent past your internist saw you in the hospital and was familiar with your case. Now you get a hospitalist who you do not know who coordinates your care.

My suggestion is to find a physician younger than yourself who has a commitment to the community. Having family ties in the area is a big plus.

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Originally posted by Icabod:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Patients who see the same doctor again and again have lower death rates, a study suggests.

I submit that this is a flawed "study."

The death rate is 100%. It does not vary.

No, No, the 100% is from drinking water.

There are many contributing factors. It is postulated that drinking water is one of them, as is eating White Castle or voting for a democratic candidate.

There are some heavily funded studies going on right now, attempting to establish the interactions, but one invariable fact remains: the death rate is 100%, regardless of the cause.

Primary care sucks. Payers have made the PCP the mandatory gate keepers for covered care. Most are overworked and wait times for an appointment can be long. Many choose to forgo the lower cost for more immediate care at the "doc-in-a-box".

RMD