BACKGROUND: Patients with Parkinsonism have a progressive disorder requiring substantial expertise to manage effectively. METHODS: Over a six-year period we evaluated physician utilization and related costs for a large, unselected cohort of 15,304 Parkinsonian patients from the general population, comparing them to 30,608 age- and sex-matched controls within a universal health care system in Ontario, Canada. RESULTS: On average, 45% of Parkinsonian patients saw neurologists annually. The cumulative rate of at least one neurological consultation was only 59.5% over the six years. Patients aged < 65 had a much greater likelihood of consulting a neurologist (73.3%) compared to those > or = 65 (37.2%). Most Parkinsonian patients (97.2%), regardless of age, saw family physicians/general practitioners each year; 50.4% saw internal medicine consultants. CONCLUSIONS: Parkinsonian patients had increased likelihood of utilizing neurologists, primary care physicians and internists compared to controls; related costs of physicians' services were higher. Further research is necessary to evaluate differences in outcomes and costs between neurologists and other physician service providers.
BACKGROUND:Patients with Parkinsonism have a progressive disorder requiring substantial expertise to manage effectively. METHODS: Over a six-year period we evaluated physician utilization and related costs for a large, unselected cohort of 15,304 Parkinsonianpatients from the general population, comparing them to 30,608 age- and sex-matched controls within a universal health care system in Ontario, Canada. RESULTS: On average, 45% of Parkinsonianpatients saw neurologists annually. The cumulative rate of at least one neurological consultation was only 59.5% over the six years. Patients aged < 65 had a much greater likelihood of consulting a neurologist (73.3%) compared to those > or = 65 (37.2%). Most Parkinsonianpatients (97.2%), regardless of age, saw family physicians/general practitioners each year; 50.4% saw internal medicine consultants. CONCLUSIONS:Parkinsonianpatients had increased likelihood of utilizing neurologists, primary care physicians and internists compared to controls; related costs of physicians' services were higher. Further research is necessary to evaluate differences in outcomes and costs between neurologists and other physician service providers.
Authors: Sean J Udow; Douglas E Hobson; Galit Kleiner; Mario Masellis; Susan H Fox; Anthony E Lang; Connie Marras Journal: Mov Disord Clin Pract Date: 2017-11-27
Authors: Jean-François Daneault; Benoit Carignan; Abbas F Sadikot; Michel Panisset; Christian Duval Journal: BMC Med Date: 2013-03-20 Impact factor: 8.775