An Algorithm Using Administrative Data to Identify Patient Attachment to a Family Physician
Table 2
Types and primary care dimensions of attachment to a family physician (FP). Health services users aged 20 years and over (), 2008–2010.
Primary care dimensions of attachment (over a two-year period)
Types of patient attachment
(over a two-year period)
Attachment defined by enrolment
Attachment defined by two CMEs done by the same FP, without enrolment
To an FMG physician
As vulnerable patient, without FMG enrolment
= 90,264
= 202,335
= 65,732
%
%
%
FMG enrolment (≥18 months)
100
—
—
Enrolment as vulnerable patient (≥18 months)
34.8
100
—
2 CMEs
14.9
17.6
100
1 CME
25.7
23.6
—
UPC ≥ 75% (patients with ≥ 2 visits to an FP in a PHC clinic)
39.4
64.8
65.5
A single patient visit (not CME) in a PHC clinic
9.9
3.8
—
May be slightly underestimated since UPC score calculation and CME identification could not be done for patients enrolled in community health centers or family medicine teaching units, where FP are mostly paid on a time basis.
