Question

An analysis of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries found that a Medicare beneficiary saw, on average, five different physicians each year. For those who were diagnosed with at least three common chronic conditions, the number increased to 10 or more per year. Describe how this type of fragmented care can be inefficient and ineffective?

Answer 1

Example of fragmentation :

Patient spends time in surgery, the recovery room, ICU, a step-down unit, etc. After patient discharge, this fragmentation may continue as different specialists prescribe different medications and require follow-up visits.

- this can confuse and upset the patient and family. It can also compound the patient's health problems.

- fragmentation that often results as patients move from one system of care to the next or when a government agency/program is not able to address community needs because issues are so complex

In this way it becomes inefficient and ineffective because patient is not getting the proper treatment