Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data
Abstract Background Due to unidentified geriatric needs, elderly patients have a higher risk for developing chronic conditions and acute medical complications. Early geriatric screenings and assessments help to identify geriatric needs. Holistic and coordinated therapeutic approaches addressing thos...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10888-2 |
| _version_ | 1797209469346643968 |
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| author | Nils Pfeuffer Franziska Radicke Maren Leiz Kilson Moon Wolfgang Hoffmann Neeltje van den Berg |
| author_facet | Nils Pfeuffer Franziska Radicke Maren Leiz Kilson Moon Wolfgang Hoffmann Neeltje van den Berg |
| author_sort | Nils Pfeuffer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to unidentified geriatric needs, elderly patients have a higher risk for developing chronic conditions and acute medical complications. Early geriatric screenings and assessments help to identify geriatric needs. Holistic and coordinated therapeutic approaches addressing those needs maintain the independence of elderly patients and avoid adverse effects. General practitioners are important for the timely identification of geriatric needs. The aims of this study are to examine the spatial distribution of the utilization of outpatient geriatric services in the very rural Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the Northeast of Germany and to identify regional disparities. Methods Geographical analysis and cartographic visualization of the spatial distribution of outpatient geriatric services of patients who are eligible to receive basic geriatric care (BGC) or specialized geriatric care (SGC) were carried out. Claims data of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were analysed on the level of postcode areas for the quarter periods between 01/2014 and 04/2017. A Moran’s I analysis was carried out to identify clusters of utilization rates. Results Of all patients who were eligible for BGC in 2017, 58.3% (n = 129,283/221,654) received at least one BCG service. 77.2% (n = 73,442/95,171) of the patients who were eligible for SGC, received any geriatric service (BGC or SGC). 0.4% (n = 414/95,171) of the patients eligible for SGC, received SGC services. Among the postcode areas in the study region, the proportion of patients who received a basic geriatric assessment ranged from 3.4 to 86.7%. Several regions with statistically significant Clusters of utilization rates were identified. Conclusions The widely varying utilization rates and the local segregation of high and low rates indicate that the provision of outpatient geriatric care may depend to a large extent on local structures (e.g., multiprofessional, integrated networks or innovative projects or initiatives). The great overall variation in the provision of BGC services implicates that the identification of geriatric needs in GPs’ practices should be more standardized. In order to reduce regional disparities in the provision of BGC and SGC services, innovative solutions and a promotion of specialized geriatric networks or healthcare providers are necessary. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:55:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46ee715bd70c45ddba61d6da6e0b39b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:55:12Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-46ee715bd70c45ddba61d6da6e0b39b42024-04-14T11:11:23ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-04-0124111210.1186/s12913-024-10888-2Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims dataNils Pfeuffer0Franziska Radicke1Maren Leiz2Kilson Moon3Wolfgang Hoffmann4Neeltje van den Berg5Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine GreifswaldSection Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine GreifswaldJade University of Applied ScienceSection Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine GreifswaldSection Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine GreifswaldSection Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine GreifswaldAbstract Background Due to unidentified geriatric needs, elderly patients have a higher risk for developing chronic conditions and acute medical complications. Early geriatric screenings and assessments help to identify geriatric needs. Holistic and coordinated therapeutic approaches addressing those needs maintain the independence of elderly patients and avoid adverse effects. General practitioners are important for the timely identification of geriatric needs. The aims of this study are to examine the spatial distribution of the utilization of outpatient geriatric services in the very rural Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the Northeast of Germany and to identify regional disparities. Methods Geographical analysis and cartographic visualization of the spatial distribution of outpatient geriatric services of patients who are eligible to receive basic geriatric care (BGC) or specialized geriatric care (SGC) were carried out. Claims data of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were analysed on the level of postcode areas for the quarter periods between 01/2014 and 04/2017. A Moran’s I analysis was carried out to identify clusters of utilization rates. Results Of all patients who were eligible for BGC in 2017, 58.3% (n = 129,283/221,654) received at least one BCG service. 77.2% (n = 73,442/95,171) of the patients who were eligible for SGC, received any geriatric service (BGC or SGC). 0.4% (n = 414/95,171) of the patients eligible for SGC, received SGC services. Among the postcode areas in the study region, the proportion of patients who received a basic geriatric assessment ranged from 3.4 to 86.7%. Several regions with statistically significant Clusters of utilization rates were identified. Conclusions The widely varying utilization rates and the local segregation of high and low rates indicate that the provision of outpatient geriatric care may depend to a large extent on local structures (e.g., multiprofessional, integrated networks or innovative projects or initiatives). The great overall variation in the provision of BGC services implicates that the identification of geriatric needs in GPs’ practices should be more standardized. In order to reduce regional disparities in the provision of BGC and SGC services, innovative solutions and a promotion of specialized geriatric networks or healthcare providers are necessary.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10888-2Claims dataSpatial analysisRural healthcareGeriatricsGeriatric assessmentUtilization of geriatric care |
| spellingShingle | Nils Pfeuffer Franziska Radicke Maren Leiz Kilson Moon Wolfgang Hoffmann Neeltje van den Berg Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data BMC Health Services Research Claims data Spatial analysis Rural healthcare Geriatrics Geriatric assessment Utilization of geriatric care |
| title | Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data |
| title_full | Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data |
| title_fullStr | Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data |
| title_short | Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data |
| title_sort | outpatient geriatric health care in the german federal state of mecklenburg western pomerania a population based spatial analysis of claims data |
| topic | Claims data Spatial analysis Rural healthcare Geriatrics Geriatric assessment Utilization of geriatric care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10888-2 |
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