Primary care physicians provide better care for diabetes patients compared to other care providers, according to new research from physicians at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
"Primary care physicians…were more likely to alter medications and consistently provide lifestyle counseling," said Alexander Turchin, MD, the senior author of the research paper and a physician and researcher in the division of endocrinology at BWH.
The study evaluated more than 27,000 diabetics who received care at two academic medical centers.
The research shows that odds of medication intensification were 49 and 26 percent higher, respectively, when a patient saw a PCP rather than a covering physician or mid-level provider. Further, the odds of a patient receiving lifestyle counseling were 91 and 21 percent higher, respectively, during an encounter with a PCP over other providers.
"Based on this finding, we would suggest better documentation and communication of the treatment plan through the electronic medical record to other care providers in efforts to help bridge the gaps that we observed in this study," Dr. Turchin said.
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"Primary care physicians…were more likely to alter medications and consistently provide lifestyle counseling," said Alexander Turchin, MD, the senior author of the research paper and a physician and researcher in the division of endocrinology at BWH.
The study evaluated more than 27,000 diabetics who received care at two academic medical centers.
The research shows that odds of medication intensification were 49 and 26 percent higher, respectively, when a patient saw a PCP rather than a covering physician or mid-level provider. Further, the odds of a patient receiving lifestyle counseling were 91 and 21 percent higher, respectively, during an encounter with a PCP over other providers.
"Based on this finding, we would suggest better documentation and communication of the treatment plan through the electronic medical record to other care providers in efforts to help bridge the gaps that we observed in this study," Dr. Turchin said.
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