A study indicated that seeing the same general practitioner throughout treatment could save dementia patients from requiring multiple hospitalizations near the end of their lives.
Poor end-of-life care, delirium, and falls were previously associated with repeated hospital visits in the final months. They are also costly to the NHS.
Researchers have discovered that offering dementia patients continuity of treatment from the same general practitioner may reduce the risk.
They analyzed data on roughly 34,000 British citizens who died with a dementia diagnosis at an average age of 87.
In the final 90 days of their life, over 1,900 had numerous hospital admissions.
Those with more contacts with different GPs were more likely to be admitted many times.
Researchers from King’s College London found that individuals who regularly saw the same primary care physician had a 21% lower chance of hospitalization.
Those with identified end-of-life care requirements were also 34% less likely to attend a hospital many times.
The research team noted in the British Journal of General Practice, “People with dementia are at high risk for multiple hospital admissions at the end of life, and reducing these admissions should be a policy priority.”
This study discovered that those with dementia who had better continuity of care with their primary care physicians were less likely to have numerous hospital admissions in the last 90 days of life.
By 2050, the number of dementia sufferers in the United Kingdom is projected to reach 1.6 million.
Paul Edwards, from the charity Dementia UK, stated, “Having continuity and familiarity with professionals can be difficult.” We must guarantee that dementia patients and their families receive continuity of care, as this can play a significant role in preventing unwarranted crises and anguish.
Professor Martin Marshall of the Royal College of General Practitioners has already emphasized that continuity of care has enormous benefits.
It cannot be disputed that knowing and being known by your general practitioner is beneficial to your health.
I have even suggested that establishing a trusting relationship between a patient and their physician is the most effective intervention available to general practitioners.
If relationships were pharmaceuticals, clinical guidelines would require their usage.
The Alzheimer’s Society’s Gavin Terry concurred, stating, “Continuity of care is crucial for improved management and treatment of diseases.”
Research indicates that depending on ‘casual’ or ‘confusing’ text messages to inform patients of medical test results places patients in danger. It was stated that GP practices convey findings differently, causing patients fear and frustration.
Some patients are kept in limbo because they expect their physician to contact them, yet physicians frequently believe it is the patients’ job to initiate contact. Text messaging and online methods of communication have benefits but were seen as “casual” or “confusing” by some patients, according to Bristol University researchers.
