HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 1 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Topics History of Healthcare Terminology Primary Care Outpatient Services Other Service Models “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” Erma Bombeck

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 2 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida History of Healthcare Outpatient care must be viewed in the context of the overall healthcare system. –Increased professionalism of medical practitioners over time –Increased role of technologies over time –Increased availability of insurance… –…followed by increased pressure for cost controls The role of outpatient care mirrors the changing structure of the overall system over time

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 3 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida History of Healthcare (cont.) Earliest healthcare was both outpatient and primary –In providers’ offices or clinics –In patients’ homes –Hospitals were few and did not provide the same types of services we see today

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 4 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida History of Healthcare (cont.) We have seen the increased prominence of hospitals in healthcare delivery –Improved techniques→Improved outcomes→Increased Demand –Hospitals could realize economies of scale for the utilization of increasingly expensive technologies –Increases in financing options supported use of expensive hospital services

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 5 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida History of Healthcare (cont.) Themes to watch for in outpatient/primary care: –Continuation of services traditionally offered on an outpatient basis Diagnosis Treating minor injuries Treating less serious illnesses –Offering entirely new services –Reversing trends to compete for services formerly exclusively offered by hospitals

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 6 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Terminology Some terms have overlap –Outpatient care: Essentially no overnight stay May be provided in a hospital –Primary care: First line of interaction with the healthcare system –Ambulatory care: Patient arrives and leaves Doesn’t necessarily mean under their own power Huge overlap with concept of outpatient care

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 7 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Terminology (cont.) Primary Care marked by –First contact with healthcare system –Typically an ongoing relationship with the provider –PC provider may coordinate other care –Offered by Family practice Pediatricians Internists Some specialists Includes non-physician providers –Local to patient –Gatekeeping to advanced care levels

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 8 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Terminology (cont.) Secondary Care typically involves –Specialists ‒ Hospitalization –Routine surgeries ‒ Rehabilitation Tertiary Care typically involves –Most complex level of care –High levels of specialization –High levels of technology

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 9 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Primary Care Primary Care serves massively important roles along several dimensions –Treatment –Economic –Social Primary care is less expensive than others –Avoids costly and dangerous advanced treatments –Identifies candidates for advanced treatments –Easier to field more widely through society –Helps to keep population healthy

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 10 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Primary Care (cont.) Many other countries formalize the role of PC in the array of healthcare services In the U.S. –Managed Care Organizations emphasize PC –In other environments the patient can often drive treatment mix between PC in a comprehensive and referral role Direct access to specialists Advantage of PC emphasis depends on –Timely access to advanced care when needed –Adequate numbers of PC providers

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 11 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Primary Care (cont.) Other roles of primary care –Preventive care Examinations Immunizations –Continuity of care –Population health Reporting Preventive care

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 12 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Care Most Primary Care is also Outpatient Care Explosive growth illustrated in Table 7-1 of –Distinct types of outpatient care facilities –Ownership models for outpatient care

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 13 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Care (cont.) Demand for OP driven by several factors –Shifting of hospital services to outpatient basis Less invasive procedures Ambulatory centers economize capital equipment without entire hospital Cost pressures decrease “elective” or “just-in- case” hospitalizations –See Table 7-2 list of declining inpatient services Huge percentage shifted to outpatient basis

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 14 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Care (cont.) Outpatient Demand Shifts (cont.) –New technologies enabled non-hospital facilities to realize economies for certain capital investments without need for the entire hospital infrastructure Ambulatory surgery centers Imaging centers Rehab facilities Laboratories

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 15 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Care (cont.) Outpatient Demand Shifts (cont.) –New practice models developed to provide services formerly provided by hospitals Mobile services Hospice services Home health care Telemedicine services Alternative medical practices –Some changes were driven by change in reimbursement policies

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 16 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Care (cont.) Hospital Outpatient Services –Hospitals realized significant demand and revenue losses from shift to OP delivery –Many hospitals increasing their own outpatient services delivery In the hospital –Further leverages capital investments Ownership of specialty satellite facilities Ownership of physician practice groups

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 17 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Care (cont.) Hospital Outpatient Services (cont.) –Hospital Emergency Rooms are traditional providers of OP services Less than half of visits are emergencies Routine care for uninsured Night/weekend care Highly specialized ED staff/facilities not well used for non-urgent care –Many hospitals are owning walk-in clinics

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 18 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Services (cont.) Hospital Outpatient Services (cont.) –Women’s Health Centers are a growing outpatient specialty practice that are often operated by hospitals –Women are a the major users of healthcare and also have higher annual charges for services –Women therefore form a customer base that can be catered to –Social pressures call for increased attention to women’s issues

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 19 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Outpatient Services (cont.) Freestanding Facilities—what are the goals and economic justifications for… –Walk-in clinics –Surgical centers –Rehab centers Why are dental, chiropractic, and vision providers almost always freestanding facilities with no hospital affiliation?

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 20 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models Mobile Services –Emergency treatment and transportation services Most widely known –Other mobile units make sense to… Deliver care to groups of patients for whom mobility is difficult

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 21 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Home Health Care –Millions of patients fit two criteria Have limited mobility due to age or physical condition Require care that does not need on-site facilities of a hospital or clinic –These patients can often be treated at home and avoid institutionalization –Changes in Medicare and Medicaid funding have supported home treatment –Private payers recognize cost savings as well

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 22 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Home Health Care (cont.) –HHC includes a wide variety of services Short term treatment, including recovery Medication monitoring Medication administration, including IVs Daily living task assistance

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 23 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Hospice Care –Services for patients with less than six month life expectancies –Services may be delivered in a variety of settings Including home care –Provide distinctive services Palliative care Emotional and spiritual needs Include family in treatment plan –Requires specialty training –Covered by Medicare

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 24 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Ambulatory Long-Term Care –Services for long-term needs without institutionalization –Case management Views holistic patient circumstances Coordinates multiple providers –Adult day care Allows relief for unpaid LTC providers Not residential

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 25 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Public Clinics –Public health services Focus on population health Provide some treatments as a policy decision –Indigent patients –Control disease Services vary widely geographically –Community health centers Federal program for underserved populations Preventive, primary, and dental care

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 26 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Public Clinics (cont.) –Free clinics Not government supported Focus on underserved populations Significant volunteer labor –Telephone access or triage Consultations for a wide variety of services –Patient monitoring –Triage (many ER visits not needed) Operate under various organizational models

HSA 3111: Outpatient and Primary Care Services 27 Dr. Lawrence West, Health Management and Informatics Department, University of Central Florida Other Service Models (cont.) Alternative and Complimentary Medicine –Chiropractic care considered complimentary Covered by some insurance Often with limits –Wide range of “nontraditional” treatments (May be traditional elsewhere) –Explosive growth in demand (Why?) –Typically not covered by insurance But some are!!! –Significant government research