In an Annals of Family Medicine study, an increase in copay-free telephone and secure online messaging contact with diabetes patients was associated with an uptick in primary and preventive physician office visits.
Researchers studied the electronic and telephone communication and a number of primary care visits by diabetic patients before, during and after a health system's 26 clinics transitioned to a patient-centered medical home model.
Results showed a 10 percent increase in secure message communication and telephone encounters were associated with primary care visit increases of 1.25 percent and 2.74 percent, respectively, among diabetic patients. Researchers suggest the findings indicate new patient outreach methods can have an effect on primary care utilization.
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