Association between continuity of care in general practice and hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions: cross sectional study of routinely collected, person level data

Key Points

• To evaluate the relationship between continuity of care in general practice and hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.
• Cross-sectional study using routinely collected, person-level healthcare records.
• Analyzed primary care continuity metrics alongside hospital admissions data for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.
• Higher continuity of care in general practice is associated with lower secondary care utilization and reduced hospital costs.
• Cost reductions and admission avoidance are most pronounced among patients who are the heaviest users of healthcare services.
• Promoting continuity of care offers potential improvements in patient experience and workplace satisfaction for general practice staff.