Primary Care-Based Case Conferences and Reductions in Health Care Utilization

Case conferences are collaborative, interdisciplinary team meetings that facilitate consensus on individual patients' health management plans, coordinate services, and initiate referrals. This approach is well-suited to address the social needs and risks of complex patients. Evidence of this approach in primary care settings to change patient outcomes is limited. A panel of 976 patients from an urban, federally qualified health center were included in case conferences. Fixed-effects regression models estimated the effect of case conferences on admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and missed outpatient appointments. Case conferencing was associated with a 6% reduction in the probability that the patient would have an ED visit in a given month and a 5% lower probability of an inpatient admission. The probability of missed primary care appointments increased. Case conferences are a potential strategy to address the multiple issues facing complex patients.