Despite the falling rate of primary care visits across the U.S., in-person visits are shifting to become more comprehensive and follow-up care is being delivered via online platforms, according to a recent study published in Annals of Family Medicine.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of adult visits to primary care physicians from 2007-16. The researchers were from organizations including New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine, Boston-based Harvard Medical School and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Here are five insights from the study results:
1. Visits per capita declined by 20 percent during the analyzed time period.
2. At each visit, primary care physicians on average addressed 0.3 more diagnoses, 0.8 more medications and provided 0.2 more preventive services.
3. Visits with scheduled primary care physicians for follow up declined by 6 percent.
4. Primary care physicians reporting the use of an EHR for follow up care increased by 44 percent.
5. Physicians reporting use of secure messaging through the EHR increased by 60 percent.