Evidence Brief: Effectiveness of Intensive Primary Care Programs

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Principal Investigator: Kim Peterson, M.S. Contributing Investigators: Mark Helfand, M.D., F.A.C.P. Linda Humphrey, M.D., F.A.C.P. Vivian Christensen, Ph.D. Susan Carson, M.P.H. Evidence-based Synthesis Program (ESP) Center Portland VA Medical Center Washington (DC): Department of Veterans Affairs; February 2013

Download PDF: Brief, Supplement

Scope

The objective of this evidence brief is to evaluate the effectiveness of interdisciplinary, multicomponent intensive primary care programs in reducing mortality and hospital use among patients identified at highest risk for hospital admission and death while still in the ambulatory care setting.

The Evidence-based Synthesis Program (ESP) Coordinating Center investigators and representatives of the Health Delivery Committee Workgroup worked together to identify the population, intervention, comparator, timing, setting and study design characteristics of interest. The Health Delivery Committee Workgroup approved the following eligibility criteria to guide this review:

• Population: Patients identified as high risk for hospital admission and/or death, regardless of whether or not there was a disease-specific focus, such as heart failure.
• Interventions: Multi-component, interdisciplinary intensive primary care programs.
• Comparator: Usual care (without the utilization of an intensive primary care program).
• Outcomes: All-cause mortality, hospitalization, emergency department use, hospital days.
• Timing: Studies that include a follow-up period of more than 30 days.
• Setting: Ambulatory setting.
• Study design: Systematic reviews, controlled clinical trials, observational studies.

See also:

Edwards ST, Peterson K, Chan B, Anderson J, Helfand M. Effectiveness of Intensive Primary Care Interventions: A Systematic Review. J Gen Intern Med. 2017 Sep 18. doi: 10.1007/s11606-017-4174-z. [Epub ahead of print]