Study reinforces regular GPs’ role in reducing hospital admissions

Older patients who see their regular GP are up to 28% less likely to go to an emergency department or be hospitalised compared to those who frequently see new doctors, an Australian study has found.
 
Those seeing a known GP had lower risks of fractures, unplanned and potentially preventable hospitalisations, as well as hospitalisations related to falls, delirium or dementia, medication and malnutrition, by comparison to those who see new GPs.
 
It also revealed that older people who receive longer GP consultations, care management plans and support from allied health professionals rely less on out of hours care services and have a reduced mortality risk of up to 36%.
 
The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and conducted between 2016–19, considered health outcomes for more than 120,000 Australians aged 65 and older receiving care in the community.
 
It comes as Australia has an increasingly ageing population, with around 16% of people aged 65 and older, placing increased demand on hospitals and community aged care services.
 
Many older Australians prefer to remain living at home for as long as possible and GPs can play a key role in facilitating this.
 
The new study’s findings further highlight the importance of established relationships with GPs and primary care services for older people, who usually have more complex health needs.
 
Registry of Senior Australians Associate Director Professor Gill Caughey said the study reinforces that ‘continuity of care really matters’ for older people.
 
‘When someone is seeing a GP who knows their medical history, medications and priorities, we see fewer hospital visits and better health outcomes,’ she said.
 
The study also shows the strongest outcomes are associated with preventive, coordinated multidisciplinary care, which GPs are uniquely placed to provide.
 
The RACGP’s 2025 Health of the Nation report found four in five GPs want to provide more preventive care, but a lack of government funding, time to collaborate and access to other health professionals are barriers to multidisciplinary team care.
 
Associate Professor Caughey says the findings reinforce the value of proactive care that focuses on prevention and coordination, rather than responding to crises once health has deteriorated.
 
‘This is about identifying problems earlier and managing them better, with GPs, nurses and allied health professionals working as a team,’ she said.
 
Associate Professor Caughey said the results highlight the need for policy and funding reforms to support GPs to prioritise continuity of care and facilitate multidisciplinary primary care teams to work with patients to optimise health outcomes.
 
‘Maintaining an ongoing relationship with a GP makes a meaningful difference to older people’s health and wellbeing,’ she said.
 
‘If we want older Australians to not only age in place but age well, we need systems that support long-term GP relationships and coordinated, preventative care.’
 
Log in below to join the conversation.
 

continuity of care older Australians preventive care