Final answer:
Home-based primary care decreases hospital visits by providing comfortable, patient-centered care at home, thus enhancing patient satisfaction and outcomes. It reduces stress and potential complications, leading to fewer reasons for hospital admissions. Healthcare provider incentives to focus on quality over quantity in patient care also contribute to this reduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Home-based primary care significantly contributes to reducing the frequency of hospital visits by providing personalized and convenient care, reducing patient stress, and preventing complications. Through a combination of in-home palliative care and hospice services, patients experience increased satisfaction with their care due to the comfort of remaining at home, thereby lowering the likelihood of hospital admissions. Additionally, the family's burden is lessened, which, coupled with enhanced family and social support, improves the patient's overall wellbeing.
Studies, such as those by Brumley et al. (2007), highlight that home-based care can lead to better patient outcomes and increased longevity compared to non-hospice patients. Moreover, the shift towards healthcare models like health maintenance organizations (HMOs), as opposed to fee-for-service, with incentives for healthcare providers to focus on patient health maintenance over service quantity, could further reduce unnecessary hospital visits. By integrating healthcare provider incentives and supportive services at home, home-based primary care presents a valuable strategy in reducing hospital visit frequency and associated healthcare costs.