Measuring provider continuity in ambulatory care: an assessment of alternative approaches.
A comparison is made of existing measures of provider continuity in ambulatory care to assess differences and limitations. New measures are proposed that complement and improve upon certain limitations of existing measures. These measures are applied to a pilot study of hypertensive patients being seen in a medical outpatient clinic of a teaching hospital. The need for further development and refinement of continuity measures is indicated, and a unifying framework for measuring provider continuity is suggested.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors