Annals of Family Medicine -- Comments for Solberg et al., 4 (1) 69-74

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Original Research:
Leif I. Solberg, A. Lauren Crain, JoAnn M. Sperl-Hillen, Mary C. Hroscikoski, Karen I. Engebretson, and Patrick J. O’Connor
Effect of Improved Primary Care Access on Quality of Depression Care
Ann Fam Med 2006; 4: 69-74 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Electronic letters published:

New Tool, Old Concept: Dean A. Seehusen (1 February 2006)

New Tool, Old Concept 1 February 2006

Dean A. Seehusen,
Evans, GA, USA
Research Director, Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Send response to journal:
Re: New Tool, Old Concept

The Future of Family Medicine project made many recommendations for changes in the way Family Medicine thinks about itself, the way we take care of patients and our business practices.(1) It was easy to see that some of these recommendations would improve our specialty while others were more difficult to swallow. Open access, or advanced access, was one of those recommendations that many have had a difficult time buying into. I have heard many pessimistic colleagues say that open access wouldn’t work. Others feel that it might be popular with patients but will be inconvenient for providers.(2)
It is reassuring to see research start to support the recommendations put forth in the Future of Family Medicine. O’Hare and Corlett have reviewed the research showing the administrative and financial benefits that can be gained with open access.(3) This study by Solberg et al. demonstrates that advanced access can positively impact chronic disease outcomes as well. Moreover, it appears that the benefits noted were due to improved continuity of care, which has always been a central tenet of Family Medicine. As more research is conducted on the positive effects of open access scheduling, the critics will be silenced, the concept will gain support, and the specialty will move towards the New Model. However, not everything about the New Model is new. Family physicians have always understood that continuity of care is central to effective chronic disease management. Open access is one new way of increasing that continuity.
1. Graham R, Bagley B, Kilo CM, Spann SJ, Bogdewic SP. Task Force 1: Report of the Task Force on Patient Expectations, Core Values, Reintegration, and the New Model of Family Medicine. Ann Fam Med. 2004;2(Suppl 1):S33-S50.
2. Edsall RL. Open Access: Whatever You May Think, It Works. Fam Pract Manag. 2004;11(4):17.
3. O’Hare CD, Corlett J. The Outcomes of Open-Access Scheduling. Fam Pract Manag. 2004;11(2):35-8.
Competing interests: None declared