RAND Research Topic: Primary Care2012-05-24T14:18:15ZCopyright (c) 2012, The RAND CorporationRAND Corporationhttp://www.rand.org/topics/primary-care.htmlAttempts by States to Save Money by Locking Medicaid Enrollees out of the ED Are Likely to Backfirehttp://www.rand.org/blog/2012/05/attempts-by-states-to-save-money-by-locking-medicaid.htmlMay 21, 2012May 21, 2012A better solution than restricting emergency department use by Medicaid enrollees is to reverse what for many years has been a trend of shrinking access to primary care for Medicaid beneficiaries.Emergency Departments, Medicaid Costs, and Access to Primary Care—Understanding the Linkhttp://www.rand.org/commentary/2012/05/16/NEJM.htmlMay 16, 2012May 16, 2012The fact that many ED (emergency department) visits could be managed in primary care settings does not mean that such care is available, write Arthur L. Kellermann and Robin M. Weinick.Implementation of the CALM Intervention for Anxiety Disorders: A Qualitative Studyhttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120077.htmlApr 1, 2012Apr 1, 2012Investigators recently tested the effectiveness of a collaborative-care intervention for anxiety disorders, Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management(CALM), in 17 primary care clinics around the United States.Integrating Susceptibility Into Environmental Policy: An Analysis of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Leadhttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201200105.htmlMar 1, 2012Mar 1, 2012This study examines how characterization of risk may change when susceptibility is explicitly considered in policy development; in particular we examine the process used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead.Assessment and Management of Patients with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Primary Carehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120059.htmlJan 1, 2012Jan 1, 2012Findings from this small study should be replicated in larger studies to stimulate interventions that will improve the initial and ongoing treatment of older persons with cognitive impairment.Use of Retail Medical Clinics Rises Tenfold Over Two-Year Periodhttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100245.htmlNov 22, 2011Nov 22, 2011Use of retail medical clinics located in pharmacies and other retail settings increased tenfold between 2007 and 2009. The determining factors in choosing one over a physician's office were found to be age, health status, income, and proximity to the clinic.Quality of and Patient Satisfaction with Primary Health Care for Anxiety Disordershttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100236.htmlJun 30, 2011Jun 30, 2011Most patients with anxiety disorders receive their care from primary care practitioners, but fewer than half receive high-quality care.Disorder-specific Impact of Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Primary Carehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20110059.htmlMar 31, 2011Mar 31, 2011Cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy medication is more effective than is usual care for principal anxiety disorders and, to a lesser extent, comorbid anxiety disorders that present in primary care.Incremental Benefits and Cost of Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management for Anxiety Treatment in Primary Carehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100288.htmlJan 1, 2011Jan 1, 2011An approach to anxiety treatment in primary care integrates research interventions into real-world practice settings. Patients benefit but costs are modestly increased.Where Do Americans Get Acute Care? Not at Their Doctor's Officehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9556.htmlSep 2, 2010Sep 2, 2010<p>Less than half of acute care visits in the United States involve a patient's personal physician. Emergency physicians, who comprise only 4 percent of doctors, handle 28 percent of all acute care encounters and nearly all after-hours and weekend care.</p>Improving Access to and Utilization of Adolescent Preventive Health Care: The Perspectives of Adolescentshttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201000186.htmlJul 31, 2010Jul 31, 2010Adolescents and parents reported that the most effective way to encourage preventive care utilization among teens was to directly address provider-level barriers related to the timeliness, privacy, confidentiality, comprehensiveness, and continuity of their preventive care.Performance-Based Payments for Primary Care Providers May Worsen Disparities in Medical Carehttp://www.rand.org/news/press/2010/05/04.htmlMay 4, 2010May 4, 2010Rewarding primary care physicians for providing better care to patients could end up widening medical disparities experienced by poorer people and by minorities. Increasing the number of primary care physicians is also not enough to boost U.S. health care quality and lower costs.Performance-Based Payments for Primary Care Providers May Worsen Disparities in Medical Carehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100028.htmlMay 3, 2010May 3, 2010Rewarding primary care physicians for providing better care to patients could end up widening medical disparities experienced by poorer people and by minorities. Increasing the number of primary care physicians is also not enough to boost U.S. health care quality and lower costs.
Primary Care: A Critical Review of the Evidence on Quality and Costs of Health Carehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100031.htmlApr 30, 2010Apr 30, 2010<p>Despite contentious debate over the new national health care reform law, there is an emerging consensus that strengthening primary care will improve health outcomes and restrain the growth of health care spending.</p>Meta-Analysis: Effect of Interactive Communication Between Collaborating Primary Care Physicians and Specialistshttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100216.htmlFeb 15, 2010Feb 15, 2010<p>Assesses the effects of interactive communication between collaborating primary care physicians and key specialists on outcomes for patients receiving ambulatory care.</p>A Survey of Primary Care Physician Practices in the Diagnosis and Management of Women with Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndromehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100168.htmlDec 31, 2009Dec 31, 2009Education can help primary care physicians improve care for patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.Effectiveness of Collaborative Care in Addressing Depression Treatment Preferences Among Low-Income Latinoshttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100149.htmlDec 31, 2009Dec 31, 2009<p>Depressed Latino patients receiving care in public-sector clinics preferred counseling or counseling/medication over medication alone. Compared to usual care, those receiving collaborative care were 21 times as likely to receive preferred treatment.</p>Reducing Disparities and Improving Quality: Understanding the Needs of Small Primary Care Practiceshttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201000133.htmlDec 31, 2009Dec 31, 2009Small primary care practices have limited staff and fewer resources than larger group practices, making it difficult to improve care for minority patients on their own. Other challenges include language barriers and lack of information systems.Financial Barriers to the Adoption of Combination Vaccines By Pediatricianshttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100183.htmlDec 31, 2009Dec 31, 2009One in 5 pediatricians reported that inadequate reimbursement prevented their using 1 or more combination vaccines. Vaccination was less likely in smaller practices, and those with a lower proportion of publicly insured patients.Meta-analysis: Effect of Interactive Communication Between Collaborating Primary Care Physicians and Specialistshttp://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20101322.htmlDec 31, 2009Dec 31, 2009<p>Assesses the effects of interactive communication between collaborating primary care physicians and key specialists on outcomes for patients receiving ambulatory care.</p>