Do Hospitalizations Disrupt Loyalty to Ambulatory Care Providers?

J Ambul Care Manage. 2019 Oct/Dec;42(4):305-311. doi: 10.1097/JAC.0000000000000299.

Abstract

We sought to determine whether hospitalizations affect where patients seek ambulatory care. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 569 adults who were attributed by a commercial payer to a large physician organization (PO) and hospitalized in 2015. Approximately half of the patients (55%) were admitted to the hospital affiliated with the PO; the rest were hospitalized elsewhere. Patients hospitalized elsewhere were significantly less likely to be seen by a PO provider in the 6 months posthospitalization than those hospitalized at the affiliated hospital (adjusted odds ratio = 0.29; 95% confidence interval = 0.17-0.48). These results have important implications for population management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Ambulatory Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Patient Preference*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Utilization Review