Applying the chronic care model to homeless veterans: effect of a population approach to primary care on utilization and clinical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
We compared a population-tailored approach to primary care for homeless veterans with a usual care approach.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective prolective cohort study of homeless veterans enrolled in a population-tailored primary care clinic matched to a historical sample in general internal medicine clinics. Overall, 177 patients were enrolled: 79 in the Homeless-Oriented Primary Care Clinic and 98 in general internal medicine primary care.


RESULTS
Homeless-oriented primary care-enrolled patients had greater improvements in hypertension, diabetes, and lipid control, and primary care use was higher during the first 6 months (5.96 visits per person vs 1.63 for general internal medicine) but stabilized to comparable rates during the second 6 months (2.01 vs 1.31, respectively). Emergency department (ED) use was also higher (2.59 vs 1.89 visits), although with 40% lower odds for nonacute ED visits than for the general internal medicine group (95% confidence interval = 0.2, 0.8). Excluding substance abuse and mental health admissions, hospitalizations were reduced among the homeless veterans between the 2 periods (28.6% vs 10.8%; P < .01) compared with the general internal medicine group (48.2% vs 44.4%; P = .6; difference of differences, P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Tailoring primary care to homeless veterans can decrease unnecessary ED use and medical admissions and improve chronic disease management.
O'Toole
Thomas P
TP
Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center for Systems, Outcomes, and Quality in Chronic Disease and Rehabilitation, Providence, RI 02908-4799, USA. thomas.otoole@va.gov
Buckel
Lauren
L
Bourgault
Claire
C
Blumen
Jonathan
J
Redihan
Stephen G
SG
Jiang
Lan
L
Friedmann
Peter
P
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data