Effect of Improved Primary Care Access on Quality of Depression Care
Ann Fam Med Solberg et al.
4: 69
The Article in Brief
Effect of Improved Primary Care Access on Quality of Depression Care
Leif I. Solberg, MD
, and colleagues
Background Do patients receive better quality care if they have better access to their personal doctors? This study looked at how increased access to primary care doctors affected the quality of care for patients with depression. The study took place in a medical group that implemented “advanced access,” in which patients are offered the opportunity to have an appointment the same day with their clinician of choice.
What This Study Found Better patient access to primary care doctors is associated with improved care of patients with depression. However, improved patient use of antidepressant medication appears to be related to improvement in the ongoing relationship between patient and doctor rather than to more access to doctor visits.
Implications
- Regular follow-up with patients and more attention to integrating primary care and mental health care could improve the quality of depression care.
- Advanced access should be implemented in ways that strengthen the ongoing relationship between patients and doctors.
