Same physician, fewer hospital stays for older adults

Older adults who stay with the same primary care physician may be less likely to land in the hospital for conditions that could have been caught and treated earlier. That’s the takeaway from a large Australian study published November 24 in The Annals of Family Medicine.

Researchers reviewed records from more than 54,000 people in New South Wales, all age 45 or older. By linking survey responses with Medicare claims and hospital data over an 11‑year span, the team looked at whether patients who consistently see the same physician are less likely to have an acute, potentially preventable hospitalization (PPH).

A measurable drop in acute hospitalizations

Roughly half of those included in the analysis had at least one acute PPH between 2007 and 2017. These admissions included common issues like cellulitis, urinary tract infections and some ear, nose and throat infections.

To track continuity, the researchers used a scoring tool based on how often a patient went back to the same physician. Even modest bumps in that score were tied to fewer acute hospitalizations.

When continuity rose from the 45^th to the 50^th percentile, the odds of an acute PPH fell by roughly 10% to more than 20%, depending on the model used.

Put another way, the data suggest that improving continuity among 11 similar patients over time could prevent one acute PPH.

Findings were consistent, even after stress-testing the data

To separate continuity from other factors, the team used four different machine-learning methods designed to account for age, chronic conditions, socioeconomic status, cultural background, smoking and physical or psychological health.

Across every model, higher continuity was linked with fewer acute admissions.

The effect was strongest among the oldest patients, and among people with multiple chronic conditions. For those aged 85 to 90, higher continuity was tied to a 7% drop in acute PPHs. Those 91 and older saw a 6% reduction.

The study didn’t explore why continuity appears to matter, but the authors note what many primary care physicians already see: long‑term relationships paint a much clearer view of their patients. That makes it easier to catch subtle changes, manage flare‑ups sooner and treat conditions before they require inpatient care.